Testo John barleycorn Steve Winwood

John barleycorn

There were three men came out of the west, their fortunes for to try
And these three men made a solemn vow
John barleycorn must die
Theyve plowed, theyve sown, theyve harrowed him in
Threw clods upon his head
And these three men made a solemn vow
John barleycorn was dead

Theyve let him lie for a very long time, til the rains from heaven did fall
And little sir john sprung up his head and so amazed them all
Theyve let him stand til midsummers day til he looked both pale and wan
And little sir johns grown a long long beard and so become a man
Theyve hired men with their scythes so sharp to cut him off at the knee
Theyve rolled him and tied him by the way, serving him most barbarously
Theyve hired men with their sharp pitchforks whove pricked him to the heart
And the loader he has served him worse than that
For hes bound him to the cart

Theyve wheeled him around and around a field til they came onto a pond
And there they made a solemn oath on poor john barleycorn
Theyve hired men with their crabtree sticks to cut him skin from bone
And the miller he has served him worse than that
For hes ground him between two stones

And little sir john and the nut brown bowl and his brandy in the glass
And little sir john and the nut brown bowl proved the strongest man at last
The huntsman he cant hunt the fox nor so loudly to blow his horn
And the tinker he cant mend kettle or pots without a little barleycorn