There Was a Miller

Cat. #0459 (MFH #644) - As sung by Mr. Fred Smith, Bentonville, Arkansas on January 20, 1960

VERSE 1
There was a miller who had two sons
Says he, my work on earth is done
An' if from you a miller I should make
Just tell me th toll that you mean for t' take
Ta-my-ry-whack-fa-de-diddle-dy-doe

VERSE 2
He called unto his oldest son
Saying, Son my work on earth is done
An' if from you a miller I should make
Just tell me th toll that you mean for t' take
Ta-my-ry-whack-fa-de-diddle-dy-doe

VERSE 3
The oldest son said, my name is Beck
An' from a bushel I'll take a peck
An' from that my fortune I must make
For that's all th toll that I mean for t' take
Ta-my-ry-whack-fa-de-diddle-dy-doe

VERSE 4
He called unto his second son
Saying, Son my work on earth is done
An' if from you a miller I should make
Just tell me th toll that ya mean for t' take
Ta-my-ry-whack-fa-de-diddle-dy-doe

VERSE 5
Th second son says, my name is Ralph
An' from a bushel, I'll take half
An' from that my fortune I must make
For that's all th toll that I mean for t' take
Ta-my-ry-whack-fa-de-diddle-dy-doe

VERSE 6
He called unto his youngest son
Saying, Son my work on earth is done
An' if from you a miller I should make
Just tell me th toll that ya mean for t' take
Ta-my-ry-whack-fa-de-diddle-dy-doe

VERSE 7
Th youngest says, my name is Paul
An' from a bushel I'll take most all
An' from that my fortune I shall lack
I'll take all th grain an' I'll swear to th sack
Ta-my-ry-whack-fa-de-diddle-dy-doe

VERSE 8
The old man turned up his toes an' died
The old woman snapped up her nose an' cried
The old man died a making his will
An' be hanged if the ole woman did'nt get th mill
Ta-my-ry-whack-fa-de-diddle-dy-doe

Variants