Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn (Pete Morton)

Subject: Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn Pete Morton
From: GUEST,Geoff
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 11:11 AM

Hi
Does anyone have the lyrics for Pete Mortons song Just like John Barleycorn?

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn Pete Morton
From: bradfordian
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 01:25 PM

yes, I have the lyrics.

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn Pete Morton
From: GUEST,banksie
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 04:58 AM

:-) Well played sir. But actually I'd be interested in having a copy as well, if you are of a mind to share them

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn Pete Morton
From: OldNicKilby
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 07:16 AM

Why not buy the C D from Pete, he is a working Musician and needs the cash to live

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn Pete Morton
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 06:10 AM

I've tried, but it looks like something has gone awry with the purchase. I WILL be trying again once I have established what went wrong. But it just would have saved me the transcription time. I stand correctly admonished

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn Pete Morton
From: michaelr
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 09:44 PM

Come on, bradfordian. This site is for the purpose of sharing, so why be artificially coy about it?

Subject: Lyr Add: JUST LIKE JOHN BARLEYCORN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 May 18 - 05:30 PM

Here's my transcription from a homemade video found at YouTube; however the singer is Richard Andrews, not Pete Morton. I think I've accurately transcribed what Andrews sings, but of course, I'm not sure this is what Morton wrote. See footnote.


JUST LIKE JOHN BARLEYCORN

Once upon a time, a nation rose
From the innocent turf like a seed.
She built all her houses and she built the city walls,
Then another nation came to make her bleed.
Well, since that day, many nations have knelt down to war.
They've never had permission nor a cause.
Generations come to be cut down by the sword
Just like John Barleycorn.

There are men standing round here with their pitchforks and sticks.
I swear they ain't bluffing us this time.
They've money for their missiles; they've money for their planes,
Their fortunes to try.
Come back; come back; come back down to earth.
Come see all your children forlorn.
They're waiting for the sickle to cut them at the knee
Just like John Barleycorn.

A return to the earth, I call from the wings:
A return to pastures of green.
We've bowed and we've sown, but only mine-fields grow,
More weapons than anybody can believe;
And we're bound by the waist and we're tied to the cart
By the Pharisees with faces of scorn.
If the winds don't get you, then the farmer will
Just like John Barleycorn.


[There's another recording on YouTube by David DiGiuseppe, from his album "Movin' On" (2002). DiGiuseppe's lyrics have numerous differences from Andrews' above, and I have even less confidence in them because they don't make quite as much sense to me, and anyway, the enunciation is much worse.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn (Pete Morton)
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 May 18 - 06:11 PM

I would suggest PETE MORTON , He is also on facebook buy a cd and get the proper words,Pete has a family to support

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just like John Barleycorn (Pete Morton)
From: GUEST,Dave Horne
Date: 01 May 22 - 04:58 PM

I used to sing this and may re-learn it now as it seems appropriate to the times.

Here are the lyrics as I remember them.

Once upon a time, a nation rose
From the innocent earth like a seed.
She built all her houses and she built her city walls,
Then another nation came to make her bleed.
Well, since that day, many nations have knelt down to war.
They've never had a mission or a cause.
Generations come to be cut down by the sword
Just like John Barleycorn.

There are men standing round with pitchforks and sticks,
I swear they ain't bluffing us this time.
They've money for their missiles, they've money for their planes,
Their fortunes to try.
Come back; come back; come back to the Earth.
And see all of your children forlorn.
They're waiting for the sickle to cut them at the knee
Just like John Barleycorn.

A return to the earth, a call from the wings,
A return to the pastures of green.
We've plough and we sow, but only minefields grow,
More weapons than anybody can believe;
And we're bound by the waist and we're tied to the cart
By the Pharisees with faces of scorn.
If the wind doesn’t get you, the farmer will
Just like John Barleycorn.