Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 20 hours ago
The Barley Grain / John Barleycorn (Roud No. 164) - Sung by Duncan Williamson, a Traveller of Furnace, Argyllshire, Scotland, later settled in Fife. Recorded by David Engle on January 18, 1987.
The original recording can be listened to here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/91096?l=en
A biography of Duncan Williamson along with many further sound recordings can be found here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/person/4292?l=en
Linda Williamson's thesis on Scottish Traveller singing can be read here, it is well worth your time if you are interested in Duncan Williamson's song repertoire: era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/8223
Note by Kevin W.:
This is Robert Burns' text of John Barleycorn, first published in 1782, which Duncan learned as a boy in school. It's a fine rendition, the only one I've ever heard sung by a traditional singer from Scotland. Duncan said in a recording made by John D. Niles in August 1986 that the tune was one his father played on the bagpipes and he put it to Robert Burns' words.
Song transcription:
There were three kings into the East,
Three kings both great and high,
And they had sworn a solemn oath,
John Barleycorn should die.
O ho poor Barley,
O poor Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart from a dying man,
To hear poor Barley groan.
[So they took a plough, they ploughed him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And then they swore a solemn oath,
John Barleycorn was dead.] *
And then the Spring it entered mild,
And showers began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And he so surprised them all.
And then the summer entered warm,
And he grew strong and tall;
His head well armed with pointed spears,
No one could do him wrong.
O ho John Barley,
O John Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart of a dying man,
To hear John Barley groan.
And then October entered mild,
And he grew wan and pale;
His bending head and drooping joints,
Showed he'd began to fail.
His colour sickened more and more,
As he grew into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage.
They taken a weapon long and sharp,
And cut him by the knee;
They tied him fast upon a cart,
Like a rogue for forgery.
O ho John Barley,
O John Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart from a dying man,
To hear John Barley groan.
They laid him out upon the floor,
To work him for their woe;
And as the signs of life appeared,
They tossed him too and fro.
They filled up a deep and darksome pit,
With water to the brim;
They heaved in poor John Barleycorn,
For to let him sink or swim.
O ho poor Barley,
O poor Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart of a dying man,
To hear John Barley groan.
They roasted o’er a scorching fire,
The marrow of his bones;
But the miller used him worst of all,
For he crushed him between two stones.
And then they taken his very heart’s blood,
And drank it round and round;
And as they more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.
John Barleycorn is a noble man,
Of gentle enterprise;
And if you do but taste his blood,
It will make your courage rise.
It will make a man forget his woes,
Will tiding all his joy;
It will make the widow’s heart to sing,
Though tear be in her eye.
So here’s to dear John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great prosperity,
Never fail in all Scotland.
O ho John Barley,
O John Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart of a dying man,
To hear John Barley groan.
* Duncan missed this verse on this occasion but sang it in other recordings.
The Barley Grain / John Barleycorn (Roud No. 164) - Sung by Duncan Williamson, a Traveller of Furnace, Argyllshire, Scotland, later settled in Fife. Recorded by David Engle on January 18, 1987.
The original recording can be listened to here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/91096?l=en
A biography of Duncan Williamson along with many further sound recordings can be found here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/person/4292?l=en
Linda Williamson's thesis on Scottish Traveller singing can be read here, it is well worth your time if you are interested in Duncan Williamson's song repertoire: era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/8223
Note by Kevin W.:
This is Robert Burns' text of John Barleycorn, first published in 1782, which Duncan learned as a boy in school. It's a fine rendition, the only one I've ever heard sung by a traditional singer from Scotland. Duncan said in a recording made by John D. Niles in August 1986 that the tune was one his father played on the bagpipes and he put it to Robert Burns' words.
Song transcription:
There were three kings into the East,
Three kings both great and high,
And they had sworn a solemn oath,
John Barleycorn should die.
O ho poor Barley,
O poor Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart from a dying man,
To hear poor Barley groan.
[So they took a plough, they ploughed him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And then they swore a solemn oath,
John Barleycorn was dead.] *
And then the Spring it entered mild,
And showers began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And he so surprised them all.
And then the summer entered warm,
And he grew strong and tall;
His head well armed with pointed spears,
No one could do him wrong.
O ho John Barley,
O John Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart of a dying man,
To hear John Barley groan.
And then October entered mild,
And he grew wan and pale;
His bending head and drooping joints,
Showed he'd began to fail.
His colour sickened more and more,
As he grew into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage.
They taken a weapon long and sharp,
And cut him by the knee;
They tied him fast upon a cart,
Like a rogue for forgery.
O ho John Barley,
O John Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart from a dying man,
To hear John Barley groan.
They laid him out upon the floor,
To work him for their woe;
And as the signs of life appeared,
They tossed him too and fro.
They filled up a deep and darksome pit,
With water to the brim;
They heaved in poor John Barleycorn,
For to let him sink or swim.
O ho poor Barley,
O poor Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart of a dying man,
To hear John Barley groan.
They roasted o’er a scorching fire,
The marrow of his bones;
But the miller used him worst of all,
For he crushed him between two stones.
And then they taken his very heart’s blood,
And drank it round and round;
And as they more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.
John Barleycorn is a noble man,
Of gentle enterprise;
And if you do but taste his blood,
It will make your courage rise.
It will make a man forget his woes,
Will tiding all his joy;
It will make the widow’s heart to sing,
Though tear be in her eye.
So here’s to dear John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great prosperity,
Never fail in all Scotland.
O ho John Barley,
O John Barleycorn,
It would cut the heart of a dying man,
To hear John Barley groan.
* Duncan missed this verse on this occasion but sang it in other recordings.
