Lyrics of 'John Barleycorn A Ballad' by Robert Burns

Do you want to know the lyrics of John Barleycorn A Ballad by Robert Burns? You're in the right place.

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!

There are many reasons to want to know the lyrics of John Barleycorn A Ballad by Robert Burns.

The most common reason to want to know the lyrics of John Barleycorn A Ballad is that you really like it. Obvious, right?

If your motivation for searching for the lyrics of the song John Barleycorn A Ballad was that you absolutely love it, we hope you can enjoy singing it.

Feel like a star singing the song John Barleycorn A Ballad by Robert Burns, even if your audience is just your two cats.

A very common reason to search for the lyrics of John Barleycorn A Ballad is the fact that you want to know them well because they make you think of a special person or situation.

Something that happens more often than we think is that people search for the lyrics of John Barleycorn A Ballad because there is some word in the song they don't quite understand and want to make sure of what it says.

It's important to note that Robert Burns, in live concerts, has not always been or will be faithful to the lyrics of the song John Barleycorn A Ballad... So it's better to focus on what the song John Barleycorn A Ballad says on the record.

We hope we have helped you with the lyrics of the song John Barleycorn A Ballad by Robert Burns.

Learn the lyrics of the songs you like, like John Barleycorn A Ballad by Robert Burns, whether it's to sing them in the shower, make your covers, dedicate them to someone, or win a bet.