A Miller's Song
from 'A Friend in Need' 
by Michael Kelly
1797

A bachelor miller so merry a life
To marry would mend it but little I doubt,
He humours the gale
And he reefs in his sail
And prudently knows what his mill is about,
	his mill is about,
	his mill is about,
And prudently knows what his mill is about.

Still whirling and twirling he lives without strife
For he slackens his flies if they make too much rout,
But what could he do with a whirligig wife?
But what could he do with a whirligig wife?
Who blow high or low carries all her sails out,
But what could he do with a whirligig wife?
Who blow high or low carries all her sails out.

The air whistles round him as keen as a knife,
He finds out its beating and round the mill goes.
Let the wind shift as 'twill, 
He steadies his mill
He has but to peep out and follow his nose,
	and follow his nose,
	and follow his nose,
He has but to peep out and follow his nose.

Still whirling and twirling he lives without strife.
For he veers to the wind and its changes he knows.
But how should he steady a whirligig wife,
When the devil can't find out which way the wind blows.
But how should he steady a whirligig wife,
When the devil can't find out which way the wind blows.