John BarleyCorn
Associations---England Agriculture Earth Men
Tapes Found On---Melindaís At Home Camp 97A
Origin---modern
Choreographer---Moon Raven
Song Name---John BarleyCorn
Writer---Robert Burns
Notes
The song is a traditional tune about the barley crop,
perhaps the green man.
ìThere was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die....
John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
Of noble enterprise;
For if you do but taste his blood,
'Twill make your courage rise.î
are some of the words from JOHN BARLEYCORN: A BALLAD (Robert Burns)
from which this ballad was taken.
The tune is actually that of Lull Me Beyond Thee
.
The words of the song are the remnants of the ways of the neolithic
and early bronze ages when the phenomena of the Sacred King was widespread
in the Old World. The Sacred King was married to the land.
He gained the power to rule by marrying the Queen (who was considered to
be a representative of the Mother Goddess). In the early neolithic
the Sacred King would rule for a fixed time - perhaps a year, perhaps seven
- and then he would be killed and, often, his blood spread upon the fields.
The Sacred King was well aware of his fate when he assumed the honored
position. He had literally made the choice to give his life to his
people. Would not the world be a far different place for the simple
people of the earth if the leaders (without being killed at the end of
their term) understood the depth of righteousness and honor which they
need in order to truly lead? Unfortunately - whether they be democratic
leaders or tyrants - most world leaders today expect the people to sacrifice
to their own personal ends rather than sacrificing their own lives to the
health and welfare of the People and the Land.
.
With this historic context in mind, the words of the song take
on an entirely new meaning.
.
Words in English
There were three men come out of the west
Their fortunes for to try
And they have made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn must die (2x)
Fa la la la, it's a lovely day
Fa la la la lay o
Fa la la la, it's a lovely day
Sing fa la la la lay
They plowed him in three furrows deep
Laid clods all on his head
And they have made a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead
Well then there came a shower of rain
Which from the clouds did fall
John Barleycorn sprang up again
And so amazed them all
Well then came men with great sharp scythes
To cut him off at the knee
They bashed his head against a stone
And they used him barbarously
Well then came men with great long flails
To cut him skin from bone
The miller has used him worse than that
He ground him between two stones
They wheeled him here, they wheeled him there
Wheeled him into the barn
And they have used him worse than that
They bunged him in a vat
They worked their will upon John Barleycorn
But he lives to tell the tale
We pour him into an old brown jug
And we call him home-brewed ale
Words in Native Tongue
JOHN BARLEYCORN: A BALLAD
(Robert Burns)
There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
They took a plough and plough'd him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful Spring came kindly on'
And show'rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surpris'd them all.
The sultry suns of Summer came,
And he grew thick and strong:
His head weel arm'd wi pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
The sober Autumn enter'd mild,
When he grew wan and pale;
His bendin joints and drooping head
Show'd he began to fail.
His colour sicken'd more and more,
He faded into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage.
They've taen a weapon, long and sharp,
And cut him by the knee;
They ty'd him fast upon a cart,
Like a rogue for forgerie.
They laid him down upon his back,
And cudgell'd him full sore.
They hung him up before the storm,
And turn'd him o'er and o'er.
They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim,
They heav'd in John Barleycorn-
There, let him sink or swim!
They laid him upon the floor,
To work him farther woe;
And still, as signs of life appear'd,
They toss'd him to and fro.
They wasted o'er a scorching flame
The marrow of his bones;
But a miller us'd him worst of all,
For he crush'd him between two atones.
And they hae taen his very hero blood
And drank it round and round;
And still the more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.
John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
Of noble enterprise;
For if you do but taste his blood,
'Twill make your courage rise.
'Twill make a man forget his woe;
'Twill heighten all his joy:
'Twill make the widow's heart to sing,
Tho the tear were in her eye.
Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great posterity
Ne'er fail in old Scotland!
TUNE: Lull Me Beyond Thee
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