John Barleycorn

 
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There come three men out of Kent me boys 
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For to plow for the wheat and rye 
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And these three men made a solemn vow. 
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John Barleycorn must die. 
 

 
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So They plowed and they sowed and they harrowed him in 
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and they sowed rye oer his head. 
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And these three men home rejoicing went 
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John Barleycorn was dead 
 

 
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But The sun shone bright and the wind blew soft 
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And it rained in a day or so 
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John Barleycorn felt the wind and the rain 
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and he soon began to grow 
 

 
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But the rye began to grow as well 
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And the rye grew slow and tall 
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John Barleycorn grew quick and short 
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And he proved them liars all 
 

 
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So they hired men with sickles 
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To cut him off at the knee 
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But the worst of all John Barleycorn 
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They served him barbarously 
 

 
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For they hired men with pikels 
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To toss him onto a log 
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And when they tossed John Barleycorn 
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They tied him down with cord 
 

 
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And they hired men with threshels 
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To beat him high and low 
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They come smicka-smack upon poor Jacks back 
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Till the flesh began to flow 
 

 
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Then.. they put him into the kiln me boys 
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Thinking to dry his bones 
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And when he come out John Barleycorn 
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They crushed him between 2 stones 
 

 
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And they put him into the mashing tub 
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Thinking to burn his tail 
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And when he come out they changed his name 
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And they called him home brewed ale 
 

 
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So put your wine into glasses 
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And your cider in pewter cans 
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Put John Barleycorn in the old brown jug 
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Cuz he proved the strongest man 
 

 
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The ripe old air fuddle duddle aye 
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To the ripe old airy o 
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The ripe old air fuddle duddle aye 
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To the ripe old airy o