» The Grey Mare

THE GREY MARE

Young Roger Esquire come a-courting of late,

To a rich farmer's daughter called Beautiful Kate;

She had to her fortune fine jewels and rings

And five thousand pou-ound, and other fine things.

This caus-ed young Roger for to tell her his mi-ind

If she would be constant, that he would be constant,

Both loving and kind.


Now, the day bein' appointed, and the money laid down,

Wasn't that a bright sight? Full five thousand pound,

But Roger, he swore by his cur-lye long hair

That he would not take her without the grey mare,

Sayin', "Although that your daughter is charming and fa-air,

I won't wed your daughter, I won't have your daughter

Without your grey mare."


Then out spoke the girl's father. and he spoke out with speed,

Saying, "I thought that you lov-ed my daughter indeed,

But since it's no better, I'm glad it's no worse,

The money once more shall return to my purse,

And as I still have her thus far in my ca-are

You shall not wed my daughter, you'll not have my daughter

Nor yet my grey mare."


The money then vanish-ed out of his sight,

And so did Miss Katie, his joy and delight.

Young Roger was then shown the way to the door

Told never again to come back there no more,

Which caused him to tear at his cur-lye long ha-air

And wish that he'd never, and wish that he'd never

Spoke of the grey mare.


Now...a twelve month bein' over, or a little above that,

Young Roger, he met with Miss Katie, his love.

Sayin', "Katie, lovin' Katie, oh don't you know me?"

"If I'm not mistaken, I saw you," said she,

"Or a man of your likeness, with cur-lye long ha-air

Who once come a-courting, he once come a-courting

My father's grey mare."