Contact
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Robert Burns
Author: traditional
Year: 1782
Barley and alcohol personified, doubling for a strong recipe for ale. There's more variations of this song than of any English folk tune. Numerous broadside versions circulate since the 17th century, while it was first published in the Bannatyne Manuscript (1568). It was also the title of a Jack London novel (1913), commenting his battle against the bottle. When Prohibition was installed in the US, John Barleycorn was symbolically buried during meetings organized by Billy Sunday (see: song Chicago).
Covers:
Mr. Biles [from Dorset on 78rpm]
Jane Haxey & The Hood Singers [English a cappella field recording conducted by Jean Ritchie as John Barleycorn Should Die]
Shepherd Hayden [50 years since he started singing it]
Brendan Behan [as 3 Farmers From The North]
Martin Carthy [with Dave Swarbrick]
Traffic [on album John Barleycorn Must Die; inspired by The Watersons]
Oysterband [with June Tabor]
Frank Black [as Johnny Barleycorn]
Paul Weller [with Martin & Eliza Carthy]
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)