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Dusty Miller (English Version)
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 "Hard Time a Comin'." (Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc).
LYRICS:
The Dusty Miller- Mother Goose
Margaret wrote a letter,
Sealed it with her finger,
Threw it in the dam
For the dusty miller.
Dusty was his coat,
Dusty was the siller,
Dusty was the kiss
I'd from the dusty miller.
If I had my pockets
Full of gold and siller,
I would give it all
To my dusty miller.
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