AThe Frank C Brown Collection of North Carolina Folkore describes this as "Perhaps the oldest and most widely known of the play=party songs" It contains three versions of the opening stanza.

THE MILLER BOY

Oh, the miller boy that tends to the mill
He takes the toll with his own free will.
One hand in the hopper and the other in the sack-
The ladies step forward and the gents step back.

MILLER BOY

Happy is the miller that lives by the mill,
The mill turns around and gains what it will.
Hands in the hopper and hands in the sack-
Ladies step forward and the gents step back.

LITTLE JOHNNY MILLER

Little Johhnie Miller he worked at the mill,
He worked all day, no matter what you will,
With a hand in the hopper and the other in the sack.
The ladies keep a-going while the gents turn back.