Written by Tim Hart/Robert Johnson/Rick Kemp/Peter Knight/Maddy Prior/Traditional
Intro N.C. There were three men came from the west N.C. Their fortunes for to tell N.C. And the life of John Barleycorn as well Instrumental D G Verse G They laid him in three furrows deep D Laid clods upon his head G Then these three man made a solemn vow C G C John Barleycorn was dead D G D G John Barleycorn was dead Verse G The let him die for a very long time D Till the rain from heaven did fall G Then little Sir John sprang up his head C G C And he did amaze them all D G D G He did amaze them all Verse G And they let him stand till the midsummer day D Till he looked both pale and wan G Then little Sir John, he grew a long beard C G C And he so became a man D G He so became a manVerse G They have hired men with the scythes so sharp D To cut him off at the knee G And they rolled him and tied him around the waist C G C They served him barbarously D G They have served him barbarouslyD Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day G Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh G Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day D G D G Fa, la, la, la, lay, ohVerse G And they have hired men with the crab-tree sticks D To cut him skin from bone G And the miller he has served him worse than that C G C He ground him between two stones D G He ground him between two stonesD Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day G Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh G Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day D G D G Singing fa, la, la, la, lay, ohVerse G And they have wheeled him here, and they've wheeled him there D They've wheeled him to a barn G And they have a-served him a-worse than that C G C They've bunged him in a vat D G They've a-bunged him in a vatD Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day G Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh G Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day D G D G Singing fa, la, la, la, lay, ohVerse G Well, they have worked their will on John Barleycorn D But he lived to tell the tale G For they pour him out of an old brown jug C G C And they call him homebrewed ale D G They call him homebrewed aleD Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day G Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh G Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day D G D G Singing fa, la, la, la, lay, ohOutro G D G C G C D G G D G D G D GD Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day G Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh G Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day D G D G Singing fa, la, la, la, lay, oh