John Barleycorn

Lyrics

[Verse 1] O three men they did come down from Kent To plough for wheat and rye And they made a vow and a solemn vow John Barleycorn should die [Verse 2] O they ploughed him in the furrow deep Till the clods lay o'er his head And these three men were rejoicing then John Barleycorn was dead [Verse 3] They left him for a week or so And a shower of rain did fall John Barleycorn sprang up again And he proved them liars all [Verse 4] Then they hired men with sickles To cut him off at the knee And the worst of all they served Barleycorn They served him barbarously [Verse 5] Then they hired men with pitchforks To pitch him onto the load And the worst of all they served Barleycorn They bound him down with cord [Verse 6] Then they hired men with thrashels To beat him high and low They came smick-smack on poor Jack's back Till the flesh bled every blow [Verse 7] O the next thing they put him in the malting kiln Thinking to dry his bones And the worst of all they served Barleycorn They crushed him between two stones [Verse 8] Then they put him in the mashing tub Thinking to scold his tail And the next thing they called Barleycorn They called him home brewed ale [Verse 9] So come put your wine into glasses Your cider in tin cans Put young Barleycorn in the old brown jug For he proves the strongest man