John Barleycorn

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: Anon
Date: 28 Mar 99 - 10:53 AM

Sorry I gave the wrong catalog #, should be 3070. I think this CD would also fit on the underappreciated thread.

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: Anon
Date: 28 Mar 99 - 10:45 AM

'The Barleycorn' on Home Fire by Ron Kavana- Green Linnet GLCD 3030

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: Barry Finn
Date: 28 Feb 99 - 03:35 AM

I've usually heard to the common lyrics

"The drunkard served him worst of all
And pissed him against the wall"

but I can't find it anywhere. Bary

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: Maelgwyn (inactive)
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 09:22 PM

Anybody? I REALLY want to find this.

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: Alice
Date: 22 Feb 99 - 08:05 PM

the "pissed me against the wall" version is the only one I've heard sung in our town's session

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: John Moulden
Date: 22 Feb 99 - 06:57 PM

Several versions have "He drank me up in his dirty maw and pissed me against the wall." Most when printed, like Colm O'Lochlainn in Irish Street Ballads (Dublin 1939), soften this to "tumbled against the wall"

I can't remember precise references for the "pissed" version but would check if anyone cares enough.

The only one I know with that sort of fal the dee chorus is the version of Colm O'Lochlainn's printing which was sung by the Johnstons, the late 60s group whose two males were Paul Brady and Mick Moloney.

John Moulden

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: Philippa
Date: 22 Feb 99 - 03:21 PM

"It might have been in first person perspective, I can't remember." Is Maelgwyn male or female (showing my ignorance of Welsh) and was s/he pissed at the time of hearing the song? Your point is taken, Joe!

Sic company I dinna like John from the regions down below
So dinna try sic tricks again John Barleycorn my jo.

but the previous line refers to 'blue devils', so apparently the 'regions' means Hell

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: MMario
Date: 22 Feb 99 - 03:12 PM

Let's see, drinking beer/ale, the results of that drinking, yes, I can see a natural conclusion to the song...though I have never heard a version that ended in that way.

MMario

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Feb 99 - 03:08 PM

It may sound more likely from a female point of view, Philippa....

Subject: RE: John Barleycorn
From: Philippa
Date: 22 Feb 99 - 03:03 PM

"pressed him" or "pushed him" seems more likely than "pissed"
JOHN BARLEYCORN in the database looks very similar
"Shamrock and Thistle" will have playlists for their programmes and the producer/staff may be able to give you further details on the recording you heard even though it was played some time ago.

Subject: John Barleycorn
From: Maelgwyn (inactive)
Date: 22 Feb 99 - 02:32 PM

I'm trying to track down a version of 'John Barleycorn' that I heard on the Thistle and Shamrock quite awhile ago. I'm sure that I recorded it, but after going through all of my thousands of unlabeled tapes, I still haven't found it. The tune is completely different than usual, and all I remember of the lyrics are the last few lines.

With me right fol lah dah ree too rah lee/ And pissed him against the wall

Or maybe it was 'pissed me against the wall'. It might have been in first person perspective, I can't remember.