There were three farmers in the north, as they were passing by
They swore an oath so mighty oh that Barleycorn should die
One of them said: drown him and the other: hang him high
For whoever will stick to Barleycorn a-begging he will die
They put poor Barley into a sack an a cold and rainy day
And took him out to cornfields and buried him in the clay
Frost and snow began to melt and dew began to fall
When Barleygrain put up his head and he soon surprised them all
The Barleygrain is a comical grain, it makes men sigh and moan
For when they drink a glass or two they forget their wives and home
The drunkard is a dirty man, he used me worst of all
He drank me up in his dirty mouth an he tumbled against the wall