There was three kings into the east, Three kings both great and high, And they hae sworn a solemn oath John Barleycorn should die. They took a plough and plough'd him down, Put clods upon his head, And they hae sworn a solemn oath John Barleycorn was dead. But the cheerful Spring came kindly on, And show'rs began to fall; John Barleycorn got up again, And sore surpris'd them all. The sultry suns of Summer came, And he grew thick and strong, His head weel arm'd wi' pointed spears, That no one should him wrong. The sober Autumn enter'd mild, When he grew wan and pale; His bending joints and drooping head Show'd he began to fail. His coulour sicken'd more and more, He faded into age; And then his enemies began To show their deadly rage. They've taen a weapon, long and sharp, And cut him by the knee; Then ty'd him fast upon a cart, Like a rogue for forgerie. They laid him down upon his back, And cudgell'd him full sore; They hung him up before the storm, And turn'd him o'er and o'er. They filled up a darksome pit With water to the brim, They heaved in John Barleycorn, There let him sink or swim. They laid him out upon the floor, To work him farther woe, And still, as signs of life appear'd, They toss'd him to and fro. They wasted, o'er a scorching flame, The marrow of his bones; But a Miller us'd him worst of all, For he crush'd him between two stones. And they hae taen his very heart's blood, And drank it round and round; And still the more and more they drank, Their joy did more abound. John Barleycorn was a hero bold, Of noble enterprise, For if you do but taste his blood, 'Twill make your courage rise. 'Twill make a man forget his woe; 'Twill heighten all his joy: 'Twill make the widow's heart to sing, Tho' the tear were in her eye. Then let us toast John Barleycorn, Each man a glass in hand; And may his great posterity Ne'er fail in old Scotland!
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Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796) [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, adapted by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [an adaptation] ; composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Jan Ječmínek"
- RUS Russian (Русский) (Mikhail Larionovich Mikhailov) , "Джон Ячменное Зерно", first published 1856
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 60
Word count: 357
Когда-то сильных три царя Царили заодно — И порешили: сгинь ты, Джон Ячменное Зерно! Могилу вырыли сохой, И был засыпан он Сырой землею, и цари Решили: сгинул Джон! Пришла весна тепла, ясна, Снега с полей сошли. Вдруг Джон Ячменное Зерно Выходит из земли. И стал он полон, бодр и свеж С приходом летних дней; Вся в острых иглах голова — И тронуть не посмей! Но осень томная идет… И начал Джон хиреть, И головой поник — совсем Собрался умереть. Слабей, желтее с каждым днем, Все ниже гнется он… И поднялись его враги… «Теперь-то наш ты, Джон!» Они пришли к нему с косой, Снесли беднягу с ног, И привязали на возу, Чтоб двинуться не мог. На землю бросивши потом, Жестоко стали бить; Взметнули кверху высоко́ — Хотели закружить. Тут в яму он попал с водой И угодил на дно… «Попробуй, выплыви-ка, Джон Ячменное Зерно!» Нет, мало! взяли из воды И, на пол положа, Возили так, что в нем едва Держалася душа. В жестоком пламени сожгли И мозг его костей; А сердце мельник раздавил Меж двух своих камней. Кровь сердца Джонова враги, Пируя, стали пить, И с кружки начало в сердцах Ключом веселье бить. Ах, Джон Ячменное Зерно! Ты чудо-молодец! Погиб ты сам, но кровь твоя — Услада для сердец. Как раз заснет змея-печаль, Всё будет трынь-трава… Отрет слезу свою бедняк, Пойдет плясять вдова. Гласите ж хором: «Пусть вовек Не сохнет в кружках дно, И век поит нас кровью Джон Ячменное Зерно!»
Confirmed with Михайлов М. Л.. Сочинения в трёх томах / Под общей редакцией Б. П. Козьмина — М.: Государственное издательство художественной литературы, 1958. — Т. 1. — pages 155—156.
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Note on TransliterationsAuthorship:
- by Mikhail Larionovich Mikhailov (1829 - 1865), "Джон Ячменное Зерно", first published 1856 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-07-16
Line count: 60
Word count: 240