Collected by: Fred Smith
Georgine Cawood Bentonville, Ark.
October 15, 1963
THE MILLER'S WILL Reel 398, Item 3
(The name of this song is "The Miller's Will".)
There was a miller who had three sons,
Says he, "My work on earth is done,
And if from you a miller I should make,
Just tell me the toll that you mean for me to take." Timmy-rye-whack-fol-de-diddle-di-do.
He called unto his oldest son.
Saying, "Son, my work on earth is done,
And if from you a miller I should make,
Just tell me the toll that you mean for to take." Timmy-rye-whack-fol-de-diddle-di-do.
The oldest said, "My name is Reck,
And from a bushel I'll take a peck,
And from that my fortune I must make,
For that's all the toll I mean for to take." Timmy-rye-whack-fol-de-diddle-di-do.
He called upon his second son.
Saying, "Son, my work on earth is done.
And if from you a miller I should make,
Just tell me the toll that you mean for to take." Timmy-rye-whack-fol-de-diddle-di-do.
The second son said, "My name is Ralph,
And from a bushel I'll take half,
And from that my fortune I must make,
For that's all the toll I mean for to take." Timmy-rye-whack-fol-de-diddle-di-do.
He called unto his youngest son.
Saying, "Son, my work on earth is done,
And if from you a miller I should make,
Just tell me the toll that you mean for to take." Timmy-rye-whack-fol-de-diddle-di-do.
The youngest said, "My name is Paul,
And from a bushel I'll take all,
And if then my fortune I should lack
I'll take all the grain and I'll swear to the sack."
Timmy-rye-whack-fol-de-did^le-di-do.
Well, the old man turned up his toes and died.
The old woman snapped up her nose and cried.
The old man died while making his will,
And I'll be hanged if the old woman didn't get the mill! Timmy-rye-whack-fol-de-diddle-di-do. 13