Synopsis

A miller, a weaver and a tailor lived in King Arthur's time (or in "Good Old Colonial times"). They were thrown out because they could not sing. All three were thieves. They are suitably punished.

The Miller got drowned in a dam

The Weaver got hung in his yarn

The Tailor tripped as he ran away with the broadcloth under his arm.

Lyrics (version from "Three Jolly Rogues of Lynn", performed by Tim Hart and Friends)

In good King Arthur's day

When we served under the King

Lived a miller and a weaver and a little tailor

Three jolly rogues of Lynn.

Now the miller he stole corn

And the weaver he stole yarn

And the little tailor he stole broadcloth

For to keep those three rogues warm

Now the miller was drowned in his dam

And the weaver was hanged in his yarn

And the devil put his claw on the little tailor

With the broadcloth under his arm

Now the miller still drowns in his dam

And the weaver still hangs in his yarn

And the little tailor he skips through hell

With the broadcloth under his arm

Printed versions

The earliest complete text is a broadside in the Bodleian library, dated 1804, "The Miller Weaver and Little Tailor". It is also known as "In Good King Arthur's Days". The song is quoted by Thomas Hardy in "Under the Greenwood Tree". It is known in the USA from the early nineteenth century, usually as "In Good Old Colony Times"

Recorded versions

• Richard Dyer-Bennet
  Richard Dyer-Bennet
  Richard Dyer-Bennet was an English-born American folk singer , recording artist, and voice teacher....
  
   on "Richard Dyer-Bennet 6 - With Young People in Mind" (1958)
• Oscar Brand
  Oscar Brand
  Oscar Brand is a folk singer, songwriter, and author. In his career, spanning over 60 years, he has composed at least 300 songs and released nearly 100 albums, among them Canadian and American patriotic songs...
  
   on "Songs Inane Only" (1958)
• The Highwaymen (folk band)
  The Highwaymen (folk band)
  The Highwaymen were a circa 1960 "collegiate folk" group, which originated at Wesleyan University and had a Billboard number-one hit in 1961 with "Michael" and another Top 20 hit in 1962 with "Cottonfields"...
  
   on "Standing Room Only!" (1961)
• Ed McCurdy
  Ed McCurdy
  Ed McCurdy was an American folk singer, songwriter, and television actor. His anti-war classic, "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" , inspired and gave hope to those in the peace movement.-Career:...
  
   on "The Folk Box" (various artists) (1964)
• Alice Stuart
  Alice Stuart
  Alice Stuart is an American blues and folk singer-songwriter and guitarist. She toured the UK with Van Morrison and throughout the United States with Mississippi John Hurt....
  
   on "All The Good Times" (1964)
• The Watersons
  The Watersons
  The Watersons were an English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire. They performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment. Their distinctive sound came from their closely woven harmonies.-Career:...
  
   on "New Voices" (various artists) (1965)
• The Clancy Brothers
  The Clancy Brothers
  The Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music singing group, most popular in the 1960s, they were famed for their woolly Aran jumpers and are widely credited with popularizing Irish traditional music in the United States. The brothers were Patrick "Paddy" Clancy, Tom Clancy, Bobby Clancy...
  
   on "Freedom's Sons" (1966)
• Roger Nicholson on "Nonesuch for Dulcimer" (1972) (performed by Nicholson (mountain dulcimer) and Bob Johnson
  Bob Johnson (musician)
  Robert "Bob" Johnson is a British guitarist formerly in the electric folk band Steeleye Span from 1972–77 and again from 1980-2001....
  
   (guitar/vocals); here, the song is titled "In Good King Arthur's Day")
• Tim Hart
  Tim Hart
  Tim Hart was an English folk singer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of electric folk band, Steeleye Span.-Early years:...
  
  on "The Drunken Sailor and other Kids Favourites" (1983)

External links

• Lyrics
• Columbia State University