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# John Barleycorn...a ballad
- URL: https://www.luddite.beer/john-barleycorn-a-ballad/
- Published: 2010-01-02T18:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-06-21T22:55:13.000Z
- Description: Whenever we have doubts about why we brew, we gather the Luddites to lift a glass and recite a little Robert Burns.
- Author: Killick
- Tags: John Barleycorn, #Import 2024-11-01 17:36, #Import 2026-10-03 16:54

## Robert Burns 1782  

**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!*