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The Barley Grain for Me

from Johnny Jump Up by DruidSong

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about

The Barley Grain for Me may be the only song I’ve ever heard of that tells of the evils of drink from the point of view of the victim - the grain used to make it.

lyrics

The rich man went up to market, to sell three wagons of rye.
The tide goes in and the tide goes out, and the barley grain must die

Chorus:

And it’s aye-fo-diddle-de-tar-ie-o. Aye-fo-diddle-de-dee
Aye-fo-diddle-de-tar-ee-o. The barley grain for me.

Well, the summer it bein’ over, and winter comin’ on
The barley grain lefts up his head with a beard like any man.

Then the reaper comes with his sharp hook. He’s made me no reply
He’s grabbed me by the whiskers and he’s cut me above the thigh.

Then the binder comes with her neat thumb. She’s bound me all around.
And then they’ve hired a handy-man to stack me on the ground.

Then the pitcher comes with a steel fork. He’s stabbed me through the heart
And like a rogue or a highway man, They’ve stacked me on the cart

Well, they hauled me off to an old barn. They spread me out on the floor.
They left me there for a space of time, ‘til me beard grew through the door.

Then the thrasher comes with his big flail. He swears he’ll break all me bones!
The miller, he served me worse than that, for he’s flung me between two stones.

Well, they got me out of that, and threw me into a well.
They left me there for a space of time, ‘til me belly began to swell.

Well, they got me out of that, and brewed me up in a pan
And when they put me into the jug, I’m as strong as any man.

Well, they’ve drunk me out in the kitchen. They’ve drunk me out in the hall.
The drunkard, he served me worse than that, for he’s flung me against the wall.

credits

from Johnny Jump Up, released June 23, 2009

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