We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

John Barleycorn

from No Strangers Here by SixMileBridge

/

about

Ancient pagan song of the harvest. Dates back to 200c.e. and the Anglo Saxon god Beowa, which translates to barley.
Folklorists say Beowa and Barleycorn are one and the same, noting that the folksong details the suffering, death, and resurrection of Barleycorn, and eventually became the legend of Beowulf.

lyrics

john barleycorn, trad.

there were three farmers in the north and as they were passing by
they swore an oath a mighty oath that john barleycorn must die
one of them says we’ll drown him and the other says hang him high
a whiff of the stick of the barley grain and a-beggin we will die
with me fal-er-a-lund-a-me too-ra-lunda-me whack-fal-diddle-di-ay

they put poor barley into the sack on that cold and rainy day
they carried him off to the garden field they buried him in the clay
the frost and the snow began to melt and the dew began to fall
and barley grain rolled up he said that he’d soon surprise them all

bein in the summer season with the harvest comin on
he stands up in the field with a beard like any man
the reaper came to wield his sickle he used me barbarously
he cut me by the middle so small he cut me above the knee

then next came master binder and he looked on me with a frown
for in the middle there was a thistle which bowled his courage down
the farmer came with his pitchfork he pierced me through the heart
like a thief and robber or highwaymen they tied me to the cart

the thresher came with his big flail he nearly broke me bones
would grieve the heart of any man just to hear me sighs and moans
the next thing that they done to me was to drown me in the well
they left me there for a day and a half or until i began to swell

the next thing that they done to me was they dried me in the kiln
they used me ten times worse than that when they ground me in the mill
the used me in the kitchen and the used me in the hall
they used me up in the parlor among the ladies all

the barley grain is a comical grain he makes men sigh and moan
for when they take a glass of me they forget their wives at home
the drunkard he is a dirty man and he uses me worst of all
he takes me up in his dirty mouth and he stumbles against the wall

credits

from No Strangers Here, released July 11, 2000

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Maggie Drennon image

Maggie Drennon New York, New York

Maggie Drennon is a premiere voice in Celtic singing, a long standing influence in folk music. She was a founding member of Ceili's Muse in 1989, and SixMileBridge in 1997

Now, with a solo performance that is meaningful yet lighthearted, she is deeply devoted to sharing Celtic traditions with American audiences.

Most importantly she brings us the soaring voice that will inspire your heart! ... more

contact / help

Contact Maggie Drennon

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this track or account

If you like Maggie Drennon, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now