John Barleycorn by Traffic

Album: John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)

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This is a musical adaptation of a traditional poem from the old west that basically railed against the ludicrousness of prohibition. The joke was that all those "brave" teetotalers who claimed to be doing the work of the Lord were actually hypocrites and were ruining that work, because, as the lyric sums up in the end, no one can do the rudimentary work necessary to build and grow the land "without a little barleycorn." >>>
Suggestion credit:
S.D. - Denver, CO
The liner notes to John Barleycorn Must Die explain: "Between the years of 1900 and 1910, Cecil Sharpe collected a number of songs, John Barleycorn among them. The many versions of this song are said to have come from Oxfordshire, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and Somerset, and there are estimated to be between 100 and 140 versions. The earliest known copy is of the age of James 1 in the Pepoysian collection 1465 printed in black letter by H. Gorson (1607-1641). the popular interpretation is the effort of the people to give up the alcohol distilled from barley but in the last verse:

"And little Sir John with his nut brown bowl
And his brandy in the glass
And little Sir John with his nut brown bowl
Proved the stronget man at last...'

but there are many interpretations." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 5

Jeff from Pittsburgh, PaAccording to Steve Winwood: "Of course, the title track of 'John Barleycorn' was an English folk song which was sometimes called 'The Passion of the Corn.' And it's a parallel with the passion of Christ and the rural cycle. The winter, the land being dormant, and then the corn growing, rising, being cut off, being ground between stones, and being mistreated, eventually rising again in the form of alcohol or bread. And it was called historically 'The Passion of the Corn.'"
[BBC Four Documentary, "Steve Winwood: English Soul", 2010; 40:35-41:21]
Noriko from Phoenix, AzI see, the lyrics really had a deep meaning and and you can really feel the essence of the song.
Randy from Las Vegas, NvThe song came from a poem by Robert Burns written in 1782.
John Barleycorn: A Ballad
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Robert Burns (1782)
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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 bending 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;
Then tied 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 turned him o'er and o'er.

They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim;
They heaved in John Barleycorn,
There let him sink or swim.

They laid him out 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 stones.

And they hae taen his very heart's 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!

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Back to the index > Poems by Robert Burns
Profile of the author > Scottish bard Robert Burns
Nathan from Jackson, TnThis song is NOT from the Old West. It's an English folksong detailing the life of John Barleycorn. It's a pagan representation of the Mabon ritual.
Joshua from La Crosse, WiJethro Tull has also been known to perform this song in concert, such as on their live album A Little Light Music.

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