Robin Adair (Glasgow)/John Barleycorn
For other versions of this work, see John Barleycorn (Burns).
John Barleycorn.
There were three kings into the east
three kings both great and high.
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
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
put clods upon his head;
And they have sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn is dead.
put clods upon his head;
And they have sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn is dead.
But the cheerful spring cam kindly on,
and showers began to fall;
John Barleycorn go up again,
and sore surprised them all
and showers began to fall;
John Barleycorn go up again,
and sore surprised them all
The sultry suns of Summer came,
and he grew thick and strong,
His head well armed with pointed spears,
that no one should him wrong.
and he grew thick and strong,
His head well armed with pointed spears,
that no one should him wrong.
The sober Autumn entered mild,
ween he grew wan and pale;
His bending joints and drooping head,
shewed he began to fail.
ween he grew wan and pale;
His bending joints and drooping head,
shewed 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.
he faded into age;
And then his enemies began
to show their deadly rage.
They'ye ta'en a weapon long and sharp,
and cut him by the knee;
Then ty'd him fast upon a cart,
like a rogue for forgery.
and cut him by the knee;
Then ty'd him fast upon a cart,
like a rogue for forgery.
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.
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 heaved in John Barleycorn,
there let him sink or swim.
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 like appear'd,
they toss'd him to and fro.
to work him farther woe,
And still as signs of like appear'd,
they toss'd him to and fro.
They wasted o'er a scorching flame,
the marrow of his banes;
But a miller us'd him worst of all,
for he crush'd him between two stanes.
the marrow of his banes;
But a miller us'd him worst of all,
for he crush'd him between two stanes.
And they hae ta'en his very hearts blood,
and drunk it round and round;
and still the more and more they drank,
their joy did more abound.
and drunk 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
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 widows heart to sing,
tho the tear was in her eye
'Twill heighten all his joy:
'Twill make the widows heart to sing,
tho the tear was in her eye
Then let us taste John Barleycorn,
each man a glass in hand,
And may his great posterity
ne'er fail in all Scotland.
each man a glass in hand,
And may his great posterity
ne'er fail in all Scotland.