John Barleycorn (Roud 164) has been performed and recorded many times by, among others, Martin Carthy, The Watersons, and Traffic. It exists in many variants from at least the early seventeenth century, and the words reprinted here are those sung by Carthy. The song has been interpreted on many different levels, and at its’ simplest is an account of drinking and its’ unwelcome consequences. It is perhaps telling that Jack London gave his alcoholic memoirs the same title.
Others have attributed symbolic and mythogical significance to the song, and regard the John Barleycorn figure as a personification of the grain barley and its’ embodiment in alcohol. The process of transformation contains intimations of fertility, death and resurrection. It has even been suggested that the character represents the Anglo-saxon pagan figure Beowa. Waterever the truth of its’ origins and meaning it remains a compelling song.
Others have attributed symbolic and mythogical significance to the song, and regard the John Barleycorn figure as a personification of the grain barley and its’ embodiment in alcohol. The process of transformation contains intimations of fertility, death and resurrection. It has even been suggested that the character represents the Anglo-saxon pagan figure Beowa. Waterever the truth of its’ origins and meaning it remains a compelling song.
