john barleycorn: a ballad

　　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 bending 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;

　　then tied 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 turned him o'er and o'er.

　　they filled up a darksome pit

　　with water to the brim;

　　they heaved in john barleycorn,

　　there let him sink or swim.

　　they laid him out 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 stones.

　　and they hae taen his very heart's 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!