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