Miller of Dee

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miller of Dee is a traditional folk song from the Chester area in the north-west of England. It is often titled "The Miller of the Dee".

The city of Chester stands on the River Dee and a weir was built across the river here in the Middle Ages to maintain high water levels for several water mills which stood on its banks.

The River Dee rises high up in the Berwyn mountains of Wales and enters the Dee Estuary on the outskirst of Chester. The English name for the river is derived from its Welsh name Afon Dyfrdwy.

The song is usually sung to the Welsh harp tune "Llydaw" (meaning "Brittany").

[edit] Lyrics (Version I)

There was a jolly miller once

Lived on the River Dee

He danced and he sang from morn till night

No lark so blithe as he.

And this the burden of his song

For ever used to be

I care for nobody, no, not I,

If nobody cares for me.

I live by my mill, God bless her!

She's kindred, child, and wife

I would not change my station

For any other in life.

No lawyer, surgeon, or doctor

E'er had a groat from me

I care for nobody, no, not I,

If nobody cares for me.

When Spring begins its merry career

Oh! how his heart grows gay

No summer drought alarms his fears

Nor winter's sad decay

No foresight mars the miller's joy

Who's wont to sing and say

Let others toil from year to year

I live from day to day.

Thus like the miller, bold and free

Let us rejoice and sing

The days of youth are made for glee

And time is on the wing.

This song shall pass from me to thee

Along this jovial ring

Let heart and voice and all agree to say

Long live the King.

This version was published in The Convivial Songster in 1782

[edit] Lyrics (Version II)

There was a jolly miller once

Lived on the River Dee;

He work'd and sang from morn till night,

No lark more blithe than he.

And this the burden of his song

Forever used to be;

I care for nobody, no, not I,

If nobody cares for me.

The reason why he was so blithe,

He once did thus unfold;

The bread I eat my hands have earn'd;

I covet no man's gold;

I do not fear next quarter-day;

In debt to none I be.

I care for nobody, no, not I,

If nobody cares for me.

A coin or two I've in my purse,

To help a needy friend;

A little I can give the poor,

And still have some to spend.

Though I may fail, yet I rejoice,

Another's good hap to see.

I care for nobody, no, not I,

If nobody cares for me.

So let us his example take,

And be from malice free;

Let every one his neighbour serve,

As served he'd like to be.

And merrily push the can about

And drink and sing with glee;

If nobody cares a doit for us,

Why not a doit care we.

This version was discovered in 1857 written on a flyleaf of a 1716 collection of John Dryden's poems.

[edit] Nursery Rhyme

There dwelt a miller, hale and bold,

Beside the river Dee;

He worked and sang from morn till night,

No lark more blithe than he;

And this the burden of his song

Forever used to be:

"I envy nobody - no, not I -

And nobody envies me!"

"Thou'rt wrong, my friend," said good King Hal,

"As wrong as wrong can be;

For could my heart be light as thine,

I'd gladly change with thee.

And tell me now, what makes thee sing,

With voice so loud and free,

While I am sad, though I am king,

Beside the river Dee?"

The miller smiled and doffed his cap,

"I earn my bread," quoth he;

"I love my wife, I love my friend,

I love my children three;

I owe no penny I can not pay,

I thank the River Dee,

That turns the mill that grinds the corn

That feeds my babes and me."

"Good friend," said Hal, and sighed the while,

"Farewell, and happy be;

But say no more, if thou'dst be true,

That no one envies thee;

Thy mealy cap is worth my crown,

Thy mill my kingdom's fee;

Such men as thou are England's boast,

O miller of the Dee!