This song has a number of variations, most notably "Belfast Mill." Si Kahn himself has changed this song significantly over the years. Except for a few differences in wording (which apparently come from the Bok Muir Trickett recording), the version in the Digital Tradition is very similar to Si Kahn's recording of the song on his New Wood album.



Here's what's in the Digital Tradition:

ARAGON MILL
(Si Kahn)

Chorus: And the only tune I hear,
       Is the sound of the wind,
       As it blows through the town,
       Weave and spin, weave and spin

1. At the east end of town, at the foot of the hill
   Stands a chimney so tall that says "Aragon Mill."
   But there's no smoke at all coming out of the stack.
   The mill has shut down and it ain't a-coming back.

2. Well, I'm too old to work, and I'm too young to die.
   Tell me, where shall we go, My old gal and I?
   There's no children at all in the narrow empty street.
   The mill has closed down; it's so quiet I can't sleep.

3. Yes, the mill has shut down; it's the only life I know
   Tell me, where will I go, Tell me, where will I go?
   And the only tune I hear, is the sound of the wind
   As it blows through the town,
   Weave and spin, weave and spin.

Copyright Joe Hill Music
@mill @work @aging @industry
recorded by Bok Trickett and Muir on Water over Stone
filename[ ARAGONML
TUNE FILE: ARAGONML
CLICK TO PLAY
DC

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Here's my transcription from Si Kahn's In My Heart: Live in Holland album. Si Kahn sings these same lyrics in the early New Wood recording, but he sings four-line verses in that recording.

ARAGON MILL
(Si Kahn)

At the east end of town, at the foot of the hill
There's a chimney so tall that says "Aragon Mill."

CHORUS
    And the only tune I hear Is the sound of the wind,
    As it blows through the town, Weave and spin, weave and spin.

But there's no smoke at all coming out of the stack.
For the mill has pulled out and it ain't coming back.
CHORUS

Now I'm too old to change, and I'm too young to die.
And there's no place to go, For my old man and I.
CHORUS

There's no children at all in the narrow, empty streets.
Now the looms have all gone; it's so quiet I can't sleep.
CHORUS

Now the mill has shut down; it's the only life I know;
Tell me, where will I go; Tell me, where will I go?
CHORUS


Copyright Joe Hill Music (1974)

This song is often sung in Europe as "Belfast Mill." @mill @work @aging @industry
recorded by Bok Trickett and Muir on Water over Stone
filename[ ARAGONML
TUNE FILE: ARAGONML
CLICK TO PLAY

DC

With four-line verses, Si Kahn's original recording is 2:12 minutes; and his later recording with two-line verses is 3:49. The Bok, Muir, and Trickett recording is 4:00; and Dolores Keane seems to have the longest recording at 5:09. I suppose others may think differently, but this is the kind of song I wish could last forever. I never get tired of it.
-Joe Offer-