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John Barleycorn Must Die

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Tempo:      4/4
Method:     Arpeggiated and lightly strummed
Tuning:     Standard w/Capo 7
Chords:     EADGBe
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)
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
[Verse 1]
There Dwere three Ammen came Cout Gof the Amwest,
Their Dfortunes fCor Gto AmtrAsus2y.Am  Asus2  
And Dthese three Ammen made a CsolGemn AmoatAsus2h,Am  
John DBarleyCcorn Gmust AmdieAsus2.Am  Asus2  
[Chorus 1]
They've Cploughed, they've sewn, they've Amharrowed him in,
Threw Cclods uDpon his Esus4head.E7  E7sus4  E7  
And Dmthese three Ammen made a CsolGemn AmoatAsus2h,Am  
John DBarleyCcorn Gwas AmdeaAsus2d.Am  Asus2  
[Instrumental 1]
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
[Verse 2]
They've Dlet him Amlie for a Cvery Glong Amtime,
Till the Drains from Cheaven Gdid faAmll.Asus2  Am  
And Dlittle Sir AmJohn sprung Cup Ghis AmheaAsus2d,Am  
and Dso amCazed Gthem AmallAsus2.Am  
[Chorus 2]
They'vCe let him C/Estand C/Btill AmMidsummer's Day,
Till he Clooked both Dpale and Esus4wan.E7  E7sus4  E7  
And Dmthese three Ammen made a sColeGmn AmoatAsus2h,Am  
On Dpoor John CBarGleycAmornAsus2.Am  
[Instrumental 2]
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
[Verse 3]
They've Dhired Ammen with the Cscythes Gso Amsharp,
To Dcut him off Cat Gthe AmkneAsus2e.Am  
They've Drolled him and Amtied him Cby Gthe AmwaiAsus2st,Am  
Serving Dhim most CbarGbarousAmly.Asus2  Am  
[Chorus 3]
They've Chired Cmen C/Bwith the Amsharp pitchforks,
Who Cpricked him Dto the Esus4heart.E7  E7sus4  E7  
And the Dmloader he has Amserved him Cworse Gthan AmthaAsus2t,Am  
For he's Dbound him Cto Gthe AmcarAsus2t.Am  
[Instrumental 3]
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
[Verse 4]
They've Dwheeled him Amaround and Caround Gthe Amfield,
Till they Dcame Cunto Ga AmbarAsus2n.Am  
And Dthere they Ammade a CsoGlemn AmoatAsus2h,Am  
On Dpoor John CBarGleyAmcorAsus2n.Am  
[Chorus 4]
They've Chired Cmen C/Bwith the Amcrab tree sticks,
To cCut him skDin from Esus4bone.E7  E7sus4  E7  
And the Dmmiller he has Amserved him Cworse Gthan AmthaAsus2t,Am  
For he's Dground him beCtween Gtwo AmstoAsus2nes.Am  
[Instrumental 4]
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|(Mmm oooh)
| D   C   G   Am   Asus2   Am  Asus2|(Who oooh)
[Verse 5]
And lDittle Sir JAmohn and the Cnut Gbrown Ambowl,
And he’s Dbrandy Cin tGhe AmglaAsus2ss.Am  
And Dlittle Sir AmJohn and the Cnut Gbrown AmbowAsus2l,Am  
Proved the Dstrongest Cman Gat AmlasAsus2t.Am  
[Chorus 5 & Coda]
The Chuntsman, Che cC/Ban't Amhunt the fox,
Nor so Cloudly to Dblow his Esus4horn.E7  E7sus4  E7  
And the Dmtinker he cAman't mend keCttle Gnor AmpotAsus2s,Am  
    D            C  G  Am  (Slowed tempo, arpeggio and fade, on last line)
was released forty five years ago in July, 1970.

All chords in this song (11)

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John Barleycorn Must Die

by Steve Winwood

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 7 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Asus2

Esus4

E7sus4

C/E

C/B

Tempo: 4/4

Method: Arpeggiated and lightly strummed

Tuning: Standard w/Capo 7

Chords: EADGBe

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)

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

[Verse 1]

D Am C G Am

There were three men came out of the west,

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

Their fortunes for to try.

D Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And these three men made a solemn oath,

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

John Barleycorn must die.

[Chorus 1]

C Am

They've ploughed, they've sewn, they've harrowed him in,

C D Esus4 E7 E7sus4 E7

Threw clods upon his head.

Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And these three men made a solemn oath,

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

John Barleycorn was dead.

[Instrumental 1]

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

[Verse 2]

D Am C G Am

They've let him lie for a very long time,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

Till the rains from heaven did fall.

D Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And little Sir John sprung up his head,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

and so amazed them all.

[Chorus 2]

C C/E C/B Am

They've let him stand till Midsummer's Day,

C D Esus4 E7 E7sus4 E7

Till he looked both pale and wan.

Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And these three men made a solemn oath,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

On poor John Barleycorn.

[Instrumental 2]

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

[Verse 3]

D Am C G Am

They've hired men with the scythes so sharp,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

To cut him off at the knee.

D Am C G Am Asus2 Am

They've rolled him and tied him by the waist,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

Serving him most barbarously.

[Chorus 3]

C C C/B Am

They've hired men with the sharp pitchforks,

C D Esus4 E7 E7sus4 E7

Who pricked him to the heart.

Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And the loader he has served him worse than that,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

For he's bound him to the cart.

[Instrumental 3]

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

[Verse 4]

D Am C G Am

They've wheeled him around and around the field,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

Till they came unto a barn.

D Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And there they made a solemn oath,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

On poor John Barleycorn.

[Chorus 4]

C C C/B Am

They've hired men with the crab tree sticks,

C D Esus4 E7 E7sus4 E7

To cut him skin from bone.

Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And the miller he has served him worse than that,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

For he's ground him between two stones.

[Instrumental 4]

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |(Mmm oooh)

D C G Am Asus2 Am Asus2

| |(Who oooh)

[Verse 5]

D Am C G Am

And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

And he’s brandy in the glass.

D Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl,

D C G Am Asus2 Am

Proved the strongest man at last.

[Chorus 5 & Coda]

C C C/B Am

The huntsman, he can't hunt the fox,

C D Esus4 E7 E7sus4 E7

Nor so loudly to blow his horn.

Dm Am C G Am Asus2 Am

And the tinker he can't mend kettle nor pots,

D C G Am (Slowed tempo, arpeggio and fade, on last line)

was released forty five years ago in July, 1970.

About John Barleycorn Must Die Chords by Steve Winwood

Learn how to play John Barleycorn Must Die by Steve Winwood with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “John Barleycorn Must Die chords”, “John Barleycorn Must Die guitar chords”, or “Steve Winwood John Barleycorn Must Die chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy John Barleycorn Must Die chords and for experienced players who want accurate John Barleycorn Must Die lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Am, C, C/E, C/B, G.

FAQ — John Barleycorn Must Die by Steve Winwood

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The chords for "John Barleycorn Must Die" show the original chord names (including D, Am, C, C/E, C/B, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.