The Gypsy

Step inside my tent, said she

I'd like to read your palm

Leave you a dollar in the jar

This won't take very long

Leave the circus noise behind

And close your eyes, relax your mind

And I'll tell you if you should leave

Or if you should go on

Then I said, now, what do you see?

She said, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee dee

Give me a sign, tell it to me

She said, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee dee

She threw some sawdust in the air

Her hands began to shake

She told me the town where I was born

She almost knew the date

She lit a candle with her eyes

Then she made the table rise

Took the dollar from the jar

And then she guessed my weight

Then I said, now, what do you see?

She said, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee dee

Give me a sign, tell it to me

She said, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee dee

You are so old, you are so wise

She said, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee die

Then she spoke most quietly

She says, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee dee

When you were a child in school

They taught you quite a lot

They taught you when you should speak

And when you should not

They taught you how to read and write

To take your lessons home at night

A little knowledge serves you well

But the golden rule does not

Then I said, now, what do you mean?

She said, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee dee

Give me a sign, tell it to me

She said, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee dee

And now when I go home at night

To lie awake in bed

I think of that old gypsy and

The words that she has said

And now I say with due respect

The more we learn, the worse we get

So if you think you've no regrets

Go have your fortune read

Then I said, now, what do you see?

She said, diddle-lee dum, diddle-lee dee