John Barleycorn
View chords used in this chart
Capo 3
Intro: D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2 x2
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
There were three men came out of the west
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
Their fortunes for to try
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And these three men made a solemn vow
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
John Barleycorn must die
C Am Am7 Am
They've plowed,they've sown,the've harrowed him in
C D Esus4 E Esus4 E
Threw clods upon his head
Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And these three men were satisfied
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
John Barleycorn was dead
D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2 x 2
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
They let him lie for a very long time
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
Till the rains from heaven did fall
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And little Sir John sprung up his head
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And so amazed them all
C Am Am7 Am
They let him stand 'til mid summer's day
C D Esus4 E Esus4 E
'til he looked both pale and worn
Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus
And little Sir John's grown a long, long beard
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And so become a man
D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2 x 4
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
They've hired men with scythes so sharp
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
To cut him off at the knee
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
They rolled him and tied him by the waist
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
Serving him most barbarously
C Am Am7 Am
They've hired men with sharp pitch forks
C D Esus4 E Esus4 E
Who pricked him to the heart
Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And the loader he has served him worse than that
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
For he's bound him to the cart
D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2 x 4
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
They've wheeled him around and around in the field
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
'til they came onto a barn
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And there they made a solemn oath
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
On poor John Barleycorn
C Am Am7 Am
They've hired men with the crab tree sticks
C D Esus4 E Esus4 E
to cut him skin from bone
Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And the miller he has served him worse than that
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
For he's ground him between two stones
D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2 x 4
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl
D C Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And he's brandy in the glass
D Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl
D Am G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
Proved the strongest man at last
C Am Am7 Am
The huntsman, he can't hunt the fox
C D Esus4 E Esus4 E
Nor so loudly blow his horn
Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2
And the Tinker he can't mend kettle nor pots
D Am G Asus2
Without a little Barlycorn
How to play John Barleycorn
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.