Hi Nutty--The song is on one of the old Barley Bree tapes...I'm sorry, I can't recall which one, nor can I find the blasted thing to give you the name of the tape. HOWEVER, The Collected Reprints from Sing Out! The Folk Song Magazine, Vols. 7-12 (1964-1973), ISBN: 1-881322-00-9, published by the Sing Out Corporation, P.O. Box 5253, Bethlehem, PA 18015-0253 has this to say on page 58:
"In the seemingly eternal war between temperance and moonshine, the best songs certainly seem to be on the side of the sinners, proving, once again, that 'the Devil has the best tunes.' This lusty classic is certainly a case in point. Popularized in broadside form as early as 1620, this tale of John Barleycorn's 'life cycle' is probably even older than that. Over the years, the song became popular in Scotland and Ireland, as well as in England--and eventually found its way to North America. Below is O.J. Abbott's version of the song which he sings in rollicking style on the Folkways' LP, Irish and British Songs from the Ottawa Valley (FM4052). Jean Ritchie recorded a group of patrons at a Lincolnshire inn singing the song for her album Field Trip England (Folkways FW8871), and A.L. Lloyd recorded a version which he leearned from a traditional singer in his album of English Drinking Songs (Riverside RLP12-618)."
(NOTE TO MUDELVES: If this needs to be added to the DT, I can send a midi as well. Please let me know via Personal Pages if that's needed--Lin)
BARLEY GRAIN
Three men went to Derahatay
To sell a load of rye;
They shouted up and they shouted down
The barley grain should die.
CHORUS:
Tiree iggery airy and tiree iggery aye;
Tiree iggery airy and the barley grain for me.
Then the farmer came with a big plow,
He plowed me under the sod.
The winter it being overrun,
The summer coming on.
(Chorus)
Then the reaper came with a sharp hook,
He made me no reply;
He cut me by the whisker
And cut me above the thigh.
(Chorus)
Then the binder come with her neat thumb,
She bound me all around;
And then they hired a handy man
To stand me on the ground.
(Chorus)
Then the pitcher came with a steel fork,
He pierced it through me heart;
And like a rover, a highway man,
They bound me on the cart.
(Chorus)
Then they drove me to the barn,
And spread me out on the floor;
They left me there for a space of time,
And my beard grew through the floor.
(Chorus)
Then the thrasher came with a big flail,
He swore he'd break me bones;
But the miller he used me worse,
He ground me between two stones.
(Chorus)
Then they took me out of that,
And threw me into a well;
They left me there for three long weeks,
And me belly began to swell.
(Chorus)
Then they sold me to the brewer,
And he brewed me on a pan;
But when I got into the jug,
I was the strongest man.
(Chorus)
Then they drank me in the kitchen,
And they drank me in the hall;
But the drunkard used me worse,
He lashed me agin the wall.
(Chorus)
@drink
filename[ JBARLEY3
LR
Oct01
^^