Roger The Miller - Karan Casey

Young Roger the miller came courting of late

To a farmer’s fine daughter called beautiful Kate

She had for her fortune a many fine things

Beautiful silks and gold, diamonds and rings

Her father, he gave her a neat plot of ground

She had also a fortune, she had also a fortune of five hundred pounds

Then the money and supper, they both were laid down

Well, it was a great sight to see five hundred pounds

The sight of that money and beauty likewise

Made Roger’s heart greedy and dazzled his eyes

«Now that your daughter and money is here

'Tis I will not have her, 'tis I will not have her without that gray mare»

Then the money and supper were taken from sight

And likewise young Kathy, his own heart’s delight

Roger was taken and shown out the door

And ordered not for to come there anymore

'Twas then he did tear at his long yellow hair

Saying, «I wish I had never, I wish I had never spoke of that gray mare»

Now it was when six months, they were over and past

And Roger the miller, he met with his lass

«I think I do know you then, madam,» said he

«I am the same way with you, sir,» said she

«A man with your features with fine yellow hair

Oh he once came a-courting, he once came a-courting my father’s gray mare»

«Well, it was not a-courting the gray mare I came

But you, my own jewel, my Kathy by name

I thought that your father would never dispute

To give me the gray mare with you to boot

And not to risk lose such a dutiful son

Oh it’s now I am sorry, it’s now I am sorry for what I have done»

«For your sorrow, young Roger, I have little regard

For there’s plenty of men in this town to be had

If you forgot the gray mare, you’d be married, you see

But now you have neither the gray mare nor me

The price of that mare, it was never so great

Oh fare you well, Roger, oh fare you well, Roger, you’re a sorrowful state»

Now Roger’s away to his desolate home

And he sighs as he sits there and sups all alone

Kathy, she sings, she is happy and gay

She has wed a young miller who works the long day

Lads, when you’re courting, be always aware

To court with a young maid, to court with a young maid and not the gray mare