by Thomas Westwood (1814? - 1888)
Mill Song
Language: English
Merrily the mill-sail Turneth round and round, With a breezy motion And a busy sound. Merrily the miller Standeth at the door, Humming pleasant ditties From his ancient store. Merrily, oh merrily, all the summer's day, Hums that burly miller, while the mill-sails play. At the open lattice, In the little homestead near, Sits the miller's good wife, With face of blythesome cheer; And round about the gateway A little sturdy throng Of rosy knaves are sporting, With laughter loud and long; And merrily, right merrily, at close of summer's day, Aye laugh the miller's children the while the mill-sails play. Good luck befall thee, miller, With thy frank and hearty smile; Good luck befall thy dear ones all, That know nor grief nor guile. When worldly cares beset us, And worldly hopes decline, 'Tis well, I wot, to linger By simple hearths like thine, And merrily, still merrily, to pass the live-long day, 'Midst happier thoughts and better hopes, the while the mill-sails play.
Confirmed with Thomas Westwood, Beads from a Rosary, London: Samuel Clarke, 1843, pages 36-37.
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Westwood (1814? - 1888), "Mill Song", appears in Beads from a Rosary [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ellen Dickson (1819 - 1878), as Dolores, "Mill Song", published 1861 [ voice and piano ], London : Charles Jefferys [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2023-06-26
Line count: 30
Word count: 166