D: XX0232
Am: X02210
C: X32010
C/E: 032010
C/B: 022010
G: 32000X (omitting the e string)
Asus2: X02200
Esus4: 022200 (formed by depressing 1st on A with 2nd finger on D&G)
E7: 020100
B7sus4: 020200
[Intro]
Asus2 (arpeggiated strum down and up)
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
[Verse 1]
DAmCGAm
There were three men came out of the west,
DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2
Their fortunes for to try.
DAmCGAmAsus2Am
And these three men made a solemn oath,
DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2
John Barleycorn must die.
[Chorus 1]
CAm
They've ploughed, they've sewn, they've harrowed him in,
CDEsus4E7E7sus4E7
Threw clods upon his head.
DmAmCGAmAsus2Am
And these three men made a solemn oath,
DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2
John Barleycorn was dead.
[Instrumental 1]
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
[Verse 2]
DAmCGAm
They've let him lie for a very long time,
DCGAmAsus2Am
Till the rains from heaven did fall.
DAmCGAmAsus2Am
And little Sir John sprung up his head,
DCGAmAsus2Am
and so amazed them all.
[Chorus 2]
CC/EC/BAm
They've let him stand till Midsummer's Day,
CDEsus4E7E7sus4E7
Till he looked both pale and wan.
DmAmCGAmAsus2Am
And these three men made a solemn oath,
DCGAmAsus2Am
On poor John Barleycorn.
[Instrumental 2]
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
[Verse 3]
DAmCGAm
They've hired men with the scythes so sharp,
DCGAmAsus2Am
To cut him off at the knee.
DAmCGAmAsus2Am
They've rolled him and tied him by the waist,
DCGAmAsus2Am
Serving him most barbarously.
[Chorus 3]
CCC/BAm
They've hired men with the sharp pitchforks,
CDEsus4E7E7sus4E7
Who pricked him to the heart.
DmAmCGAmAsus2Am
And the loader he has served him worse than that,
DCGAmAsus2Am
For he's bound him to the cart.
[Instrumental 3]
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
[Verse 4]
DAmCGAm
They've wheeled him around and around the field,
DCGAmAsus2Am
Till they came unto a barn.
DAmCGAmAsus2Am
And there they made a solemn oath,
DCGAmAsus2Am
On poor John Barleycorn.
[Chorus 4]
CCC/BAm
They've hired men with the crab tree sticks,
CDEsus4E7E7sus4E7
To cut him skin from bone.
DmAmCGAmAsus2Am
And the miller he has served him worse than that,
DCGAmAsus2Am
For he's ground him between two stones.
[Instrumental 4]
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|DCGAmAsus2AmAsus2|
|D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2|(Mmm oooh)
|D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2|(Who oooh)
[Verse 5]
DAmCGAm
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl,
DCGAmAsus2Am
And he’s brandy in the glass.
DAmCGAmAsus2Am
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl,
DCGAmAsus2Am
Proved the strongest man at last.
[Chorus 5 & Coda]
CCC/BAm
The huntsman, he can't hunt the fox,
CDEsus4E7E7sus4E7
Nor so loudly to blow his horn.
DmAmCGAmAsus2Am
And the tinker he can't mend kettle nor pots,
D C G Am (Slowed tempo, arpeggio and fade, on last line)
Without a little Barleycorn.