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 Johnny Barleycorn/Skeleton Man
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Mister Dog
- FB Fan -

USA
91 Posts

Posted - 08/12/2006 :  22:40:31  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Is it just me or does anyone else notice the similarities in the lyrics between these two songs? With the whole death/rebirth/corn thing?

Skinner, you're an odd man, but you sure know how to steam a ham.

Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =

Canada
11687 Posts

Posted - 08/13/2006 :  01:15:29  Show Profile  Visit Cult_Of_Frank's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I don't really though I've not listened for it. But I did want to mention that I think the quote is something like, "Skinner, you're an odd fellow, but you steam a good ham"


"No man remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself."
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -

Ireland
11546 Posts

Posted - 08/14/2006 :  06:14:05  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I actually said this a couple of times before, and I kind of Immeadiately connected the lyrics of the two when I heard Barley. SM is the Children Of The Corn, that whole southern gothic thing, to JB's The Wicker Man!


Join the Cult Of Pob! And don't forget to listen to the Pobcast!
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edbanky
= Cult of Ray =

Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
388 Posts

Posted - 08/14/2006 :  12:34:12  Show Profile  Visit edbanky's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Good call.

Gently gently gently Johnny
Gently Johnny my jingalo
__________

Corn rigs and barley rigs and
Corn rigs are bonnie . . .

I set her down with right goodwill
Among the rigs o' barley
I kent her heart was my own
I loved her most sincerely
I kissed her o'er and e'er again
Among the rigs of barley

________

And on that bed there was a girl
And on that girl there was a man
And from that man there was a seed
And from that seed there was a boy
And from that boy there was a man
And for that man there was a grave
From that grave there grew
A tree


Due to my present condition and predicaments of being a crippled as a result of the fatal accident that I had, I am not able to carry out this contract because I can only walk on a wheel chair.

Edited by - edbanky on 08/14/2006 12:41:27
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mikaelp75
- FB Fan -

131 Posts

Posted - 08/14/2006 :  17:23:33  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I guess most of you know John Barleycorn from one of the versions by Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull, Traffic or even the latest Oysterband disc, but for those of you who don't, here's the lyrics as 1) a version that resembles most of the above and 2) a very old one, collected by Robert Burns no less:

1)
There were three men come from the West
Their fortunes for to try,
And these three made a solemn vow:
"John Barleycorn must die."

They plowed, they sowed, they harrowed him in,
Threw clods upon his head,
'Til these three men were satisfied
John Barleycorn was dead.

They let him lie for a very long time,
'Til the rains from heaven did fall,
When little Sir John raised up his head
And so amazed them all.

They let him stand 'til Mid-Summer's Day
When he looked both pale and wan;
Then little Sir John grew a long, long beard
And so became a man.

They hired men with their scythes so sharp
To cut him off at the knee;
They rolled him and tied him around the waist,
And served him barbarously.

They hired men with their sharp pitchforks
To pierce him to the heart,
But the loader did serve him worse than that,
For he bound him to the cart.

They wheeled him 'round and around the field
'Til they came unto a barn,
And there they took a solemn oath
On poor John Barleycorn.

They hired men with their crab-tree sticks
To split him skin from bone,
But the miller did serve him worse than that,
For he ground him between two stones.

There's little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl,
And there's brandy in the glass,
And little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl
Proved the strongest man at last.

The huntsman cannot hunt the fox
Nor loudly blow his horn
And the tinker cannot mend his pots
Without John Barleycorn.


2)
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 bendin 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;
They ty'd 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 turn'd him o'er and o'er.

They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim,
They heav'd in John Barleycorn-
There, let him sink or swim!

They laid him 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 atones.

And they hae taen his very hero 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!
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -

Ireland
11546 Posts

Posted - 08/15/2006 :  09:13:59  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Didn't know Tull had a Barleycorn song, but then I don't know they're songs. I've probably heard Aqualung, but I can't remember what it goes like.

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