The Barley Grain
A song in the key of Em
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Abc notation for The Barley Grain
X:2257
T:Barley Grain, The
R:song
Z:id:hn-song-85
M:6/8
L:1/8
Q:3/8=120
K:Em
B | B2B c2A | B2B G2A | B2B c2A | B3- B2
B | B2B cBA | B2B EEF | G2A B2A | G3 ||
G2F | E2E EEE | F2D D2F | E2E EEE | B3
B2B | e2E FED | E2F GGA | B2A G2F | E3- E2 ||
W:There were three farmers in the north, as they were passin' by
W:They swore an oath, and a mighty oath, that the barley grain should die
W:
W:Chorus:
W:With me rex fol-lol-de-dol-dairy oh, me rex fol-lol-de-dol-dee
W:With me rex fol-lol-de-dol-dairy oh, and the barley grain for me.
W:
W:They put poor barley in a sack on a cold and rainy day,
W:And they took him off to the cullin' fields and buried him in the clay,
W:
W:Frost and snow began to melt, and the dew began to fall,
W:When barley grain put up his head, and soon surprised them all.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:Being in the summer season and the harvest coming on,
W:It's then he stands up in the field with a beard like any man.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:The reaper came with his sickle and used me barbarously
W:he caught me by the middle so small and he cut me above the knee
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:The next came was the binder and he looked me with a frown
W:but in the middle there was a thistle that pulled his courage down.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:The farmer came with his pitch fork and he pierced me to the heart
W:like a thief, a rogue or a highwayman they tied me to the cart
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:The thresher came with his big flail and soon he broke my bones,
W:'twould grieve the heart of any man to hear my sighs and groans,
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:The next thing that they done to me, they steeped me in a well
W:They left me there for a day and a night and my middle began to swell.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:The next thing that they done to me, they dried me in the kiln,
W:They used me ten times worse than that, they ground me in the mill,
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:The barley grain is a comical grain, it makes men sigh and moan
W:For when they drink a glass or two they forget their wife and home.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:The drunkard he's a terrible man he used me worst of all
W:He drank me up in his dirty maw and pissed me against the wall.
W:
W:Chorus