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Title
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Miller of the Dee
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Singer
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Thomson, Catherine Mrs.
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Song Lyrics
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Verse 1
There dwelt a miller hale and bold,
Down by the River Dee,
He worked and sang from morn till night,
No lark more blithe than he;
And this the burden of his song
For ever used to be -
'I envy nobody, no not I,
Nor nobody envies me.'
Verse 2
'Thou'rt wrong, my friend,' cried old King Hal,
'Thou'rt wrong as wrong can be,
For had I half as much health as thine,
I would gladly change with thee;
Then tell me now what makes thee sing,
With heart as light and free,
While I am sad, although I am King,
Down by the River Dee?'
Verse 3
The miller smiled and doffed his cap -
'I love my wife,' said he,
'I love my friends, I love my mill,
I love my children three;
I owe no penny I cannot pay,
I thank the River Dee,
That turns the mill to grind the corn,
That feeds my babes and me.'
Verse 4
'Farewell my friend!' cried old King Hal,
'And happy may you be!
And, had I had such health as thine,
I would gladly change with thee;
Thy mealy cap is worth my crown,
Thy mill my kingdoms three,
Such men as thou are England's boast,
Oh, miller of the Dee.'
