Here are some soundfiles, lyrics, and background . . . .

THE MILLER BOY as sung by M.L. Mercer, Josephine Campbell, Hazel Barnhart, and Grace Acree.

Happy was the miller boy
That lived by the mill
The mill went around
With a free good will
Hand in the hopper
An' the other in the sack
Ladies step forward
An' the gents all back
Four in the ring
An' I can't jump Josie
Four in the ring
An' I can't jump Joe
Four in a ring
An' I can't jump Josie
Hello, Suzy Brown
Look down the road
An' I seen Sal a-com'n
Look down the road
An' I seen Sal a-com'n
Look down the road
An' I seen Sal a-com'n
Hello, Suzy Brown

Source: Max Hunter Collection


Two from Visalia FSA Camp 1941/09/01 . . . .

MILLER BOY

MILLER BOY

Source: Voices From the Dust Bowl / American Memory


MILLER BOY sung by: Mr. and Mrs. F.E. Ash
Recorded in Ash Flat, AR 8/15/58

The miller boy, the miller boy,
Lives by the mill.
The mill turns around with its own free will.
One hand in the hopper and the other in the sack,
Salute your partner and take a back track.
We're sailing east, we're sailing west,
We're sailing over the ocean.
Says I, "Young man, if you don't watch out,
You'll be too slow in the motion."

Happy is the miller boy who lives by the mill;
The wheel turns around with its own free will.
One hand in the hopper and the other in the sack.
Salute your partner and take a back track.
We're sailing east, we're sailing west.
We're sailing over the ocean.
Says I," Young man, if you don't look out,
You'll take too slow in the motion."

(Mrs. Ash: "There's a boy and a girl in pairs in a circle and one extra boy to lead. And the boy in the middle, he starts out by singing "Miller Boy," and then when they say salute your partner and take a back track, he steps in and steals a partner, and then they go again. And then after everyone gets halfway through, then they sing they're sailing east and sailing west and then everyone turns and goes in the opposite direction until they get new partners. The boys go one way and the girl goes the other.")

Also found in Randolph, Vol. III, #518; Brown, Vol. III, #74.

MILLER BOY sung by: Jack Escue
Recorded in Sidney, AR 8/30/57

There was a miller boy, lived by the mill.
The mill turned around by its own free will.
Hand on the hopper and the other'n on the sack,
Ladies walk forward, gents turn back.
Sailing east, we're sailing west,
Sailing over the ocean.
Come, all you men who want a good wife,
Better be quick in the motion.

(Mr. Escue: "In this little ring game, why, each man has his partner, and they're circling around and they promenade, and there's one extra boy in the center, and he cheats a partner every time, and when he hollers be quick in the motion . . . In this ring game, when they start out, why, you have your partner, and you're promenading around the ring, and there's an extra boy in the center who cheats on a partner every time, and that throws one without a partner, and it goes on around until the ring, 'til it's finished.")

Also found in Randolph, Vol. III, #518; Brown, Vol. III, #75.

Source: Wolf Folklore Collection