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| JOHN BARLEYCORN
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| Now, there came three men out of Kent my boys
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| For to plough for wheat and rye
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| And they made a vow and a solemn vow
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| John Barleycorn must die.
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| So, they ploughed him deep in the furrow
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| And they sowed rye o’er his head
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| And these three men home rejoicing went,
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| John Barleycorn was dead.
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| But, the sun shone warm and the wind blew soft
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| And it rained in a day or so
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| John Barleycorn felt the wind and the rain
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| And soon began to grow
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| But the rye began to grow as well;
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| The rye grew slow but tall
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| But John Barleycorn he grew short and quick
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| And he proved them liars all
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| So, they hired men with sickles
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| To cut him off at the knee
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| And worst of all, John Barleycorn,
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| They served him barbarously.
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| For, they hired men with pikels,
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| To toss him on to a load,
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| And when they’d tossed John Barleycorn
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| They tied him down with cords.
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| Then, they hired men with thrashels
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| To beat him high and low
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| They came smick smack upon poor Jack's back
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| Till the flesh began to flow.
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| Then, they put him in to the kiln me boys,
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| Thinking to dry his bones
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| And when he came out, John Barleycorn,
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| They crushed him between two stones.
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| Then, they put him in to the mashing tub,
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| Thinking to burn his tail,
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| And when he came out they’d changed his name,
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| For they called him home-brewed ale.
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| So, put your wine in glasses,
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| Your cider in pewter cans
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| Put John Barleycorn in the old brown jug,
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| For he proved the strongest man.
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| To my ri-fol-airy, fol-the-diddle ay
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| To my ri-fol-airey oh
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| To my ri-fol-airy, fol-the-diddle ay
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| To my ri-fol-airey oh
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| Recording by Fred Jordan on ‘A Shropshire Lad’ Veteran VTD148CD
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| Reference:
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| Schofield D (2007) John Barleycorn: as sung by Fred Jordan Magazine of the English Folk Dance and Song Society Spring 2007 p9.
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