![]() ![]() In their notes to the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs (London, 1959), editors A. In most traditional versions, including the sixteenth century Scottish version entitled Alan-a-Maut, the plant's ill-treatment by humans and its re-emergence as beer to take its revenge are key themes. The song survived into the twentieth century in the oral folk tradition, primarily in England, and many popular folk revival artists have recorded versions of the song. ![]() In 1782, the Scottish poet Robert Burns published his own version of the song, which influenced subsequent versions. The oldest versions are Scottish and include the Scots poem " Quhy Sowld Nocht Allane Honorit Be". The song may have its origins in ancient English or Scottish folklore, with written evidence of the song dating it at least as far back as the Elizabethan era. In the song, he suffers indignities, attacks, and death that correspond to the various stages of barley cultivation, such as reaping and malting. John Barleycorn, the song's protagonist, is a personification of barley and of the alcoholic beverages made from it: beer and whisky. " John Barleycorn" is an English and Scottish folk song listed as number 164 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Broadside ballad entitled "A Huy and Cry After Sir John Barlycorn" by Alexander Pennecuik, 1725 ![]()
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