1. Tell me what the mill-wheels say,
Always turning night and day;
When we sleep and when we wake,
What a busy sound they make!
Never idle, never still,
What a worker is the mill!

2. What is it that the brooklets say,
Rippling onward day by day?
Sweet as skylark on the wing,
Ripple, ripple--thus they sing.
Never idle, never still,
Always working with a will!

3. Listen to the honey-bee,
Flying now so merrily
Here and there with busy hum--
Humming, drumming, drumming, drum.
Never idle, never still,
Humming, drumming--hum it will!

4. Like the mill, the brook, the bee,
May it now be said of me
That I'm always busy too,
For there's work enough to do.
If I work, then, with a will,
It will be but playing still;
Ever merry, never weary,
It will be but playing still.