THE MILLER OF DEE (Jolly Miller)



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 aong

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, etc.



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, etc.



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.



From Popular Music of the Olden Time, Chappell

Found (in 1857) writtten on a flyleaf of a 1716 collection of

Dryden's poems.

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