image link,
which takes you to a good bit of info
on John Barleycorn’s cultural identity
I’m listening to Traffic’s album, “John Barleycorn Must Die” this afternoon. The title song’s lyrics got my curiosity going. Who is this John Barleycorn to be on the receiving end of such abuse?
With a little search, I found out. I also found out that poet, Robert Burns, wrote a ballad about him, and those lyrics are the lyrics of the song on the album. Am I the only person who didn’t know who he was? Here is Robert Burns’ ballad poem:
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 colour 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 tied 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 turned 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!
The Traffic song:
Tao Talk 
Admittedly, while I knew and love the Traffic song, I didn’t know about Robert Burns and his ballad. Well, that explains why the credits indicate “traditional.” I never paid much attention to that aspect. Steve Winwood did a great job with the musical arrangement!
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Glad you learned something new about it today, Christian.
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Thanks, me too!😀
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The only thing I knew about him was that he was a fictional character that represent alcohol. BUT…I didn’t find out until after I heard the traffic song!
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Same here
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Great album though!
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I did my best to kill John Barleycorn last night, in the form of Warped Speed Scotch Ale from Lake Louie.
Traffic were a bit like Jethro Tull, with folk roots.
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Steve, that sounds like some hooch!
Very good description of Traffic.
Question: your posts used to show up in my comment section but they haven’t for awhile now. I’m still subscribed to your blog. Did you change your settings?
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Nothing changed on my end. I did notice that WordPress or YouTube changed, in that I have to switch to Firefox to see embedded YouTube videos in posts now. When I click on them in Safari I am usually asked to sign in to prove I’m not a bot. Or maybe that only happens on PowerPop, since this one worked.
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Irritating to put it mildly.
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Now you’ve piqued my interest. Down the rabbit hole I go…. Excellent presentation.
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Awesome, Violet. I read the post at the link and wasn’t sure what to think. I wouldn’t rule it out, especially way way back. I’ve heard of such practices in other places, so why not Scotland. Your thoughts?
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The traffic album is a must :)
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Paul, I bought it and 7 other used CDs from discogs. It’s damfine, I agree.
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I wouldn’t put anything past a Scotsman if you try to come between him and his water o life!
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LMAO!
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Oh, how I love that album !!!!!!!!!!
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To think he was only 22 then. Such a talented young man as such an early age.
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He was in the groove — that whole band was !
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John Barleycorn is a metaphor for brewing beer or distilling alcohol. Everything that they do to poor old Barleycorn is a part of the brewing process: cut him at the knee = harvesting the wheat, crushed between two stones = milling, drinking his blood = enjoying a beer, etc.
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Liam I saw that after looking up more info. What the lady at that link wonders is if it were an old practice literally. I think the jury is out on that…
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I really like that drawing for some reason. It should feel creepy and disturbing, but I’m drawn to it…! lol Maybe I was abducted by Bigfoot and we had a good time sitting in front of the fire and weaving grass into baskets but I don’t remember? lol
Also did not know about Barleycorn. When I read it without finding out later it’s about alcohol, it sounded like the life story of Rasputin, you know, someone who was hard to kill. But I guess that’s true of alcohol too, haha.
Hey, YOU love a challenge. Scenic Writer’s Shack is having a writing contest–with real $$ prizes! lol–for short fiction of 500 words max. He gives a theme and all the info is on his site. I blogged about it recently but I think WP unsubscribed you from me, ’cause I haven’t seen you in my stuff for a while. (“No,” thought Lisa, “I just haven’t WANTED to see your stuff”) lol Seriously, though. Check it out. And if you want, spread the word! You have more followers than I do. :)
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Stacey, the image at the post seems friendly to me, but the thing in the field at the link looks downright terrifying to me! Interesting about Rasputin and being hard to kill. Was there no silver bullet or wooden stake to take him out? I think I did see that writing contest but at your page on goodreads. Will you put the link here in the comments so others can see it?
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Yeah, I think Rasputin was poisoned and shot and maybe one other thing before he finally succumbed, lol. If the story is true, of course.
And thanks, Li. Here’s the link to the contest — https://scenicwritersshack.com/2025/02/07/writing-competition-launch/
People sent in really good stuff last year! :)
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I’ve heard that name time and again but not much about the person/myth.
Fantastic. Will try to get back to this tomorrow.
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A lot of Burns’ poetry has been turned into good songs–I think he used old folk songs as musical inspiration.
Thanks for reminding me of that Traffic song/album too. (K)
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Good to know about him. I think I bought an e book of his poetry. Will have to revisit it. My pleasure on the Traffic.
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I’m only getting better acquainted with Traffic now through earlier admiration for Steve Winwood. Funny you should share this; a musical friend recently was raving about this record! Thanks for the reminder to spin it!
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It’s worth a listen. Blind Faith had just broken up when Traffic was put together. Traffic broke up but a year later reconvened and made this album. I know that Winwood also worked with Capaldi and Ginger Baker in a group called Ginger Baker’s Air Force. Winwood is the beautiful thread running through them all. This album is jazz progressive. Lots of info out there on it.
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Thanks, I will indeed. Winwood is a special talent.
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I love the song too, but didn’t know it came from Burns.
My dad had a CD of Jean Redpath, a Scottish folk singer, doing Burns covers. ‘Nine inch will please a lady’ was pretty dirty….
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Just listened to it but not able to understand it. Did not know Burns wrote Auld Lang Syne. Another collection to add to my to-listen-to list.
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He was profilic – if it’s an old Scottish poem, he probably wrote it.
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!
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:) <3
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Good one Lisa. I hooked into the Traffic song when I was a lad and still enjoy the story. Winwood does a cool later version. Looks like he’s in his home studio. Fantastic.
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Winwood’s been around hasn’t he.
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Ive got big (Not grown up) listening to his music.
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