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John Barleycorn
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folk song from long ago... that I do live....
alternative rock acoustic piano jazz
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The Winds of Endless Cosmic Flight... Doomed to wander,among the broken hearts...
Okay... I'm on a giant "rock",hurling thru space and this is what I do..to pass the time..
Song Info
Charts
Peak #939
Peak in subgenre #20
Author
traditional
Rights
traditonal
Uploaded
July 24, 2011
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.0 MB 128 kbps 4:22
Story behind the song
John Barleycorn is a traditional [English] song and therefore in the public domain. The earliest written version that I know of is by Robert Burns, the great 19th Century Scottish poet (see complete text below). Traffic did a version which is the earliest rock treatment of the song that I know of. Tull seems to have covered Fairport Convention's reworking. (Only fair, as Dave Pegg was still a co-member.) John Barleycorn is the sidhe or spirit responsible for the fermentation of grain and therefore responsible for alcoholic beverages, which are celebrated in this song. It is also a classic death and resurrection legend of the kind co-opted by the Christians (Easter, specifically) in order to facilitate their spread into pagan Europe, as well as the British Isles. * Don Spade, SCC, Vol. 9, Nr.8, December 1997 http://www.cupofwonder.com/allm2.html
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