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John Barleycorn

from Wanderlust by Alexander James Adams

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    Heather's debut album focusing on a 20 year career of original and traditional music featuring faerie tales and folklore of the Celts.

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lyrics

JOHN BARLEYCORN/ Drowsy Maggie/ Unfortunate Rake
Traditional lyrics and fiddle tunes
Music and arrangment by Heather Alexander


Let me tell a tale of my father's kin
For his blood runs through my veins
No man's been born that could best John Barleycorn
For he suffered many pains, he suffered many pains!

They've buried him well beneath the ground
And they've covered over his head
And these men from the west did solemnly attest
John Barleycorn was dead, John Barleycorn was dead!

But the warm spring rains came a pourin' down
And John Barleycorn arose
And upon that ground he stood without a sound
Til he began to grow, til he began to grow!

They've hired a man with a knife so sharp
For to cut him through the knees
And they've pitched Barleycorn and tied him down with thorn
And served him barbarously, they've served him barbarously!

And they've hired some men with crabtree sticks
For to beat him high and low
And the skin off his back, they then began to smack
Til the place began to blow, the place began to blow!

And they've ground his bones inbetween two stones
And they've served him worse than that
For they've tossed him into an oaken mashing bin
And they've sealed him in a vat, they've sealed him in a vat!

But John Barleycorn proved the stoutest man
Though they did all that they could
So raise up your horn in praise to Barleycorn
And we shall drink his blood, yes we shall drink his blood!

Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994

credits

from Wanderlust, released April 1, 1994
Vocal, Fiddle, Bodhran, Tambourine: Heather Alexander
Bass: Rob Wullenjohn

license

all rights reserved

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Alexander James Adams Redmond, Washington

A changling from the Land of Fae, Heather brings stories and songs from a world where magic never dies and anything can happen if you only believe.

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