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Dusty Miller (English Version) See also US related versions: Miller Boy
Traditional. English, Scottish; Old Hornpipe (3/2 time) or Country Dance Tune (versions in 3/4 and 6/8 time). Words by Robert Burns
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes DATE: 1788
OTHER NAMES: "Binny's/Benny's Jig," "Hey the Dusty Miller"
SOURCES: The air, Dusty Miller, is in the Crockat MS- 1709. Alburger (Scottish Fiddlers and Their Music), 1983; Ex. 6d, pg. 22. Ashman (The Ironbridge Hornpipe), 1991; No. 114b, pg. 48. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, 2nd ed. only). Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Times), Vol. 2, 1859; pg. 166. Johnson, 1984; No. 76, pg. 225. Neal Collection. Preston, Twenty-Four Country Dances for the Year 1797. Preston, Collection Book III. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 14. Walsh, Caledonian Country Dances. Peter Barnes et al - "BLT." Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc;
NOTES: Kuntz lists 7 separate tunes under the “Dusty Miller” title. The translated lyrics by Robert Burns included here could be reworked to fit “The Miller’s Reel,” the mid-west version commonly played at mid-western fiddle contests. (Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc).
The Old-Time version played by John Carson and later by the Fuzzy Mountain String Band (N.C.) can be found in Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; pg. 96. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; pg. 53. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 1, 1994; pg. 78. It has been linked to the song Carson song "Hard Time a Comin'." (Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc).
LYRICS-Words by Robert Burns:
Verse 1: Hey, the dusty Miller,
And his dusty coat,
He will win a shilling,
Or he win a groat (a large denomination of money):
Dusty was the coat,
Dusty was the colour,
Dusty was the kiss
That I gat frae the Miller.
Verse 2: Hey the dusty Miller,
And his dusty sack;
Leeze me on the calling
Fills the dusty peck:
Fills the dusty peck,
Brings the dusty (silver) siller;
I wad gae my coatie
For the dusty Miller.
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