João Cevada

There were three men come out of the west, their fortunes for to try

And these three men made a solemn vow, John Barleycorn would die

They've ploughed, they've sown, they've harrowed, thrown clods upon his head

Till these three men were satisfied John Barleycorn was dead

(Chorus)

There's beer all in the barrel and brandy in the glass

But little Sir John, with his nut-brown bowl, proved the strongest man at last

They've let him lie for a long long time till the rains from heaven did fall

And little Sir John sprang up his head and so amazed them all

They've let him stand till midsummer's day and he looks both pale and wan

Then little Sir John's grown a long long beard and so become a man

(Chorus)

(Chorus)

They've hired men with the sharp-edged scythes to cut him off at the knee

They've rolled him and tied him around the waist, treated him most barbarously

They've hired men with the sharp-edged forks to prick him to the heart

And the loader has served him worse than that for he's bound him to the cart

So they've wheeled him around and around the field till they've come unto a barn

And here they've kept their solemn word concerning Barleycorn

They've hired men with the crabtree sticks to split him skin from bone

And the miller has served him worse than that for he's ground him between two stones

(Chorus)

(Chorus)

And the huntsman he can't hunt the fox nor loudly blow his horn

And the tinker he can't mend his pots without John Barleycorn

Três homens vieram do oeste, pra tentar a sorte

E esses três homens fizeram um voto sério, João Cevada vai morrer

Eles araram, semearam, passaram o arado, jogaram terra na cabeça dele

Até que esses três homens ficaram satisfeitos, João Cevada estava morto

(Refrão)

Tem cerveja no barril e conhaque no copo

Mas o pequeno Sir João, com sua tigela marrom, provou ser o mais forte no final

Deixaram ele deitado por muito, muito tempo até que as chuvas do céu caíram

E o pequeno Sir João levantou a cabeça e surpreendeu a todos

Deixaram ele em pé até o dia do solstício de verão e ele parecia pálido e fraco

Então o pequeno Sir João deixou crescer uma longa barba e assim se tornou um homem

(Refrão)

(Refrão)

Contrataram homens com foices afiadas pra cortá-lo no joelho

Eles o rolaram e amarraram na cintura, trataram-no de forma bem brutal

Contrataram homens com garfos afiados pra perfurá-lo até o coração

E o carregador o tratou ainda pior, pois o prendeu na carroça

Então o levaram em volta do campo até chegarem a um celeiro

E aqui cumpriram sua palavra solene sobre Cevada

Contrataram homens com varas de espinheiro pra separar pele de osso

E o moleiro o tratou ainda pior, pois o moeu entre duas pedras

(Refrão)

(Refrão)

E o caçador não consegue caçar a raposa nem tocar seu chifre

E o ferreiro não consegue consertar suas panelas sem João Cevada