John Barleycorn Lyrics - Fairport Convention

There were three men come out of the west, their fortunes for to try 

And these three men made a solemn vow, John Barleycorn would die 

They've ploughed, they've sown, they've harrowed, thrown clods upon his head 

Till these three men were satisfied John Barleycorn was dead 

There's beer all in the barrel and brandy in the glass 

But little Sir John, with his nut-brown bowl, proved the strongest man at last 

They've let him lie for a long long time till the rains from heaven did fall 

And little Sir John sprang up his head and so amazed them all 

They've let him stand till midsummer's day and he looks both pale and wan 

Then little Sir John's grown a long long beard and so become a man 

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There's beer all in the barrel and brandy in the glass 

But little Sir John, with his nut-brown bowl, proved the strongest man at last 

There's beer all in the barrel and brandy in the glass 

But little Sir John, with his nut-brown bowl, proved the strongest man at last 

They've hired men with the sharp-edged scythes to cut him off at the knee 

They've rolled him and tied him around the waist, treated him most barbarously 

They've hired men with the sharp-edged forks to prick him to the heart 

And the loader has served him worse than that for he's bound him to the cart 

So they've wheeled him around and around the field till they've come unto a barn 

And here they've kept their solemn word concerning Barleycorn 

They've hired men with the crab tree sticks to split him skin from bone 

And the miller has served him worse than that for he's ground him between two stones 

Photos 

There's beer all in the barrel and brandy in the glass 

But little Sir John, with his nut-brown bowl, proved the strongest man at last 

There's beer all in the barrel and brandy in the glass 

But little Sir John, with his nut-brown bowl, proved the strongest man at last 

And the huntsman he can't hunt the fox nor loudly blow his horn 

And the tinker he can't mend his pots without John Barleycorn