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1.
There were three men coming out of the westtheir fortunes for to tryand these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn should die.
They ploughed him inthey harrowed him inthrew clods all over his head.
And these three men they swore and vowed:
John Barleycorn was dead.2. They let him lie for a very long timetill rain from heaven did fall.
And little Sir John sprung up his headand so amazed them all.
They let him stand till midsummer's dayhe looked both pale and wan.
And little Sir John's grown a long long beardand so became a man.3. They hired men with the scythes so sharpto cut him off at knee.
They rolled him and tied him 'round the waistand served him barbarously.
Then they sent men with pitchforks strongto pierce him through the heart.
And the loader served him worse than thatfor he's bound him to a cart.4. They hired men with crab-tree sticksto cut him skin from bonethe miller served him worse than thatand ground him between two stones.
And little Sir John and the dark brown bowland he's brandy in the glassand little Sir John and the dark brown bowlgrew the strongest man at last.
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