John Barleycorn A Ballad Lyrics

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.Burns Robert - John Barleycorn A Ballad - http://motolyrics.com/burns-robert/john-barleycorn-a-ballad-lyrics.html

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

@drink @Scots

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