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Man at the Mill

from Steel by Nell & Jim Band

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about

For many years after Jim had played with a band called Johny Magnet and the Magnetos, a local hard rock/punk sort of band, there was a certain rhythm that stuck in his brain. Waiting for the right song to apply it to he found it in the old-time and bluegrass version of this tune. The old-time version sung by Clarence Ashley from the Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley recording. He also had the recording of The Dillards a bluegrass band from Missouri who performed as The Darlings on the Andy Griffith show. This is the Nell and Jim Bands own unique version with some added lines from their bassist Jim Kerwin. 
Jim plays a Deering six string banjo which gives it that real old time sound, and this particular recording was done with one microphone

lyrics

"Man at the Mill" Lyrics

Down sat an owl with his head all white
Lonesome day and a lonesome night
Thought I heard a pretty girl say
Dance all night and sleep next day
Same old man livin' at the mill
The mill turns around of it's own free will
Hand in the hopper and the other in the sack
Ladies step forward and the gents fall back
Well I heard the raven as she flew
If I was a young one I'd get two
One for to get and the other to sew
I'd have a string for my bass fiddle bow
Same old man livin' at the mill
The mill turns around of it's own free will
Hand in the hopper and the other in the sack
Ladies step forward and the gents fall back
Well my old man's in Kalamazoo
He don't wear no yes I do
First to the left and then to the right
This old mill grinds day and night
Same old man livin' at the mill
The mill turns around of it's own free will
Hand in the hopper and the other in the sack
Ladies step forward and the gents fall back
Same old man livin' at the mill
The mill turns around of it's own free will
Hand in the hopper and the other in the sack
Ladies step forward and the gents fall back

credits

from Steel, released February 15, 2019
Traditional, Version Jim Kerwin

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Nell & Jim Band Berkeley, California

The Nell & Jim Band joins five genre-busting artists together, bringing their audiences joyful music infused with folk, bluegrass, Americana, roots, swing, and jazz. Featuring Nell Robinson on flute & vocals, Jim Nunally on guitar & vocals, Jim Kerwin on bass fiddle, Jon Arkin on percussion, and Rob Reich on accordion & keyboards, this is truly an all-star band. ... more

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