John Barleycorn Video (MV)

There were three men
Who came out of the West
Their fortunes for to try
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn must die
They plowed they sowed they harrowed him in
Threw clod upon his head
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barelycorn was dead

The let him lie for a very long time
Till the rains from heaven did fall
And little Sir John sprung up his head
And so amazed them all
They let him lie 'til midsummer
'Til he grew both pale and wan
And little Sir John grew a long sharp beard
And so became a man

They hired men with a scythe so sharp
To cut him off at the knee
They rolled him and tied him around the waste
And used him so barbarously
They hired men with sharp pitchforks
To pierce him to the heart
And the loader he treated him
Worse than that
For he tied him onto a cart

The wheeled him around and around the field
'Til they came unto a barn
And there they made a solemn mow
Of poor John Barleycorn
They hired men with crabtree sticks
To rip him skin from bone
And the miller he treated him worst of all
For he ground him between two stones

There's little Sir John in the nut brown bowl
And brandy in the glass
And little Sir John in the nut brown bowl
Proved the stronger man at last
And the huntsman he can't hunt the fox
Or proudly blow his horn
And the tinker can't mend his kettles or his pots
Without a little of the barleycorn