Songs and Lyrics

Version 1

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X:1
T:John Barleycorn
Z:Webmaster
C:Trad
Q:1/4=120
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
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%
W:1
W:There were three men come from the west Their fortune for to try. 
W:And these three men made a solemn vow, 
W:John Barleycorn should die....John (repeat) 
W:
W:(chorus)
W:Fol-lol-lol~it's a lovely day, 
W:Fol-lol-1ol-lol-lol~layo, 
W:Fol-lol-la, Fol-lol-la,  it's a lovely day, 
W:Sing fol-lol-lol~layo. 
W:
W:2
W:They laid him in three furrows deep, Laid clods upon his head. 
W:Then these three men made a solemn vow, 
W:John Barleycorn was dead....John (repeat) 
W:
W:3
W:They let him lie for a very long time, 
W:Till the rain from heaven did fall 
W:Then little Sir John sprang up his head, 
W:And he did amaze them all....And (repeat) 
W:
W:4
W:They let him stand till the midsummer day, 
W:Till he looked both pale and wan. 
W:Then little Sir John he grew a long beard, 
W:And so became a man,...And (repeat) 
W:
W:5
W:They have hired men with scythe so sharp, 
W:To cut him off at the knee, 
W:They rolled and tied him around the waist 
W:They served him barb'rously....They (repeat) 
W:
W:6
W:They have hired men with crab tree sticks 
W:To cut him skin from bone,     
W:And the miller he has served him worse than that 
W:For he's ground him between two stones, ....For (repeat) 
W:
W:7
W:They have wheeled him here, they have wheeled him there, 
W:They have wheeled him to a barn,
W:And they have served him worse than that, 
W:They have bunged him in a vat....They (repeat) 
W:
W:8
W:They have worked their will on John Barleycorn, 
W:But he lived to tell the tale,     
W:For they pour him out of an old brown jug 
W:And they called him home brewed ale....And (repeat)

Version 2

Version 3

Song Note

Song by Traditional
Country of origin: England

Folk song references:

Roud-164

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