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