THE HAPPY MILLER

(Couples in front skater position, facing counterclockwise around a big circle. Dance starts with dancers walking forward while singing.)

Happy is the miller who lives by the mill
Mill turns around of its own free will
Hand in the hopper, and the other in the sack
The mill turns around, and we all turn back

(On the last line of the verse, the couples turn to face back the other direction without letting go of hands, by turning on the spot to face each other and then continuing the turn, each one straigtening their bent elbow and bending their straight elbow. The dancers are now facing clockwise around the big circle with the gent on the inside. They walk forward while singing.)

Happy is the miller who lives by the mill
Mill turns around of its own free will
Hand in the hopper, and the other in the sack
The ladies go forward, and the gents turn back

(On the last line of the verse, the gent lets go with his left hand, turns to his left to face back in the other direction, then pulls past his partner. The gents walk forward counterclockwise on the inside of the circle, the ladies walk forward clockwise on the outside of the circle.)

And it's raining, hailing, stormy weather
In comes the farmer, drinking up the cider
In comes the reaper, out goes the binder
I have a true love, where shall I find her?

(On the last two words of the verse, the dancers find a new partner and join up in front skater position facing counterclockwise to start the dance over.)

A nearly identical dance, to a different tune, is I'VE BEEN TO LONDON. (Perhaps it is identical, perhaps not - I only heard this called once, and that was twenty years ago.) The words are:

I've been to London, I've been to Dover,
I have travelled this wide world over
Over, over, three times over
Drink up the brandywine, and turn the glasses over

I've been to London, I've been to Dover,
I have travelled this wide world over
Over, over, three times over
Drink up the brandywine, and turn the glasses over

Sailing east, sailing west
Sailing over the ocean
You better watch out, when you turn the ship around
Or you'll lose your girl in the ocean