verse 1 In days gone by when the world was much younger Men harnessed the wind to work for mankind Seamen built tall ships to sail on the ocean Landsmen built wheels the corn for to grind Around and around and around went the big sails Turning the shaft and the great wooden wheels Creaking and goaning the millstones kept turning Grinding to flour the good corn from the fields verse 2 In Flanders and Spain and the lowlands of Holland And the kingdoms of England and scotland and Wales Windmills grew up all along the wild coastline Ships of the land with their high canvas sails Around and around and around went the big sails Turning the shaft and the great wooden wheels Creaking and goaning the millstones kept turning Grinding to flour the good corn from the fields verse 3 In Lancashire lads work hard with the good earth Ploughing and sowing the seasons declare Waiting to reap of the rich, golden harvest While the miller is idle his mill to repair Around and around and around went the big sails Turning the shaft and the great wooden wheels Creaking and goaning the millstones kept turning Grinding to flour the good corn from the fields verse 4 Windmills of old wood all blackened by weather Windmills of stone glaring white in the sun Windmills like giants all ready for tilting Windmills that died in the gales and are gone Around and around and around went the big sails Turning the shaft and the great wooden wheels Creaking and goaning the millstones kept turning Grinding to flour the good corn from the fields