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