Now playing

John Barleycorn

Chords

4.77 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
N.C.
There were three men came from the west
N.C.
Their fortunes for to tell
N.C.
And the life of John Barleycorn as well
[Instrumental]
D  G
[Verse]
GThey laid him in three furrows deep
Laid Dclods upon his head
Then Gthese three man made a solemn vow
John CBarleyGcorn was Cdead
John DBarleycorn was GdeadD  G  
[Verse]
GThe let him die for a very long time
Till the Drain from heaven did fall
Then Glittle Sir John sprang up his head
And he Cdid aGmaze them Call
He Ddid amaze them GallD  G  
[Verse]
GAnd they let him stand till the midsummer day
Till he Dlooked both pale and wan
Then Glittle Sir John, he grew a long beard
And he Cso beGcame a Cman
He Dso became a Gman
[Chorus]
Fa, la, la, la, Dit's a lovely day
Sing fa, la, la, Glay, oh
GFa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day
DFa, la, la, la, Glay, ohD  G  
[Verse]
GThey have hired men with the scythes so sharp
To Dcut him off at the knee
And they Grolled him and tied him around the waist
They Cserved him GbarbarousCly
They have Dserved him barbarousGly
[Chorus]
Fa, la, la, la, Dit's a lovely day
Sing fa, la, la, Glay, oh
GFa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day
Singing Dfa, la, la, la, Glay, ohD  G  
[Verse]
GAnd they have hired men with the crab-tree sticks
To Dcut him skin from bone
And the Gmiller he has served him worse than that
He Cground him beGtween two Cstones
He Dground him between two Gstones
[Chorus]
Fa, la, la, la, Dit's a lovely day
Sing fa, la, la, Glay, oh
GFa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day
Singing Dfa, la, la, la, Glay, ohD  G  
[Verse]
GAnd they have wheeled him here, and they've wheeled him there
They've Dwheeled him to a barn
And Gthey have a-served him a-worse than that
They've Cbunged him Gin a Cvat
They've a-Dbunged him in a Gvat
[Chorus]
Fa, la, la, la, Dit's a lovely day
Sing fa, la, la, Glay, oh
GFa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day
Singing Dfa, la, la, la, Glay, ohD  G  
[Verse]
GWell, they have worked their will on John Barleycorn
But he Dlived to tell the tale
For they Gpour him out of an old brown jug
And they Ccall him Ghomebrewed Cale
They Dcall him homebrewed Gale
[Chorus]
Fa, la, la, la, Dit's a lovely day
Sing fa, la, la, Glay, oh
GFa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day
Singing Dfa, la, la, la, Glay, ohD  G  
[Outro]
G   D   G   C G C  D  G
G  D   G   D  G  D  G

All chords in this song (3)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

John Barleycorn

by Steeleye Span

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

N.C.

There were three men came from the west

N.C.

Their fortunes for to tell

N.C.

And the life of John Barleycorn as well

[Instrumental]

D G

[Verse]

They laid him in three furrows deep

Laid clods upon his head

Then these three man made a solemn vow

C G C

John Barleycorn was dead

D G D G

John Barleycorn was dead

[Verse]

The let him die for a very long time

Till the rain from heaven did fall

Then little Sir John sprang up his head

C G C

And he did amaze them all

D G D G

He did amaze them all

[Verse]

And they let him stand till the midsummer day

Till he looked both pale and wan

Then little Sir John, he grew a long beard

C G C

And he so became a man

D G

He so became a man

[Chorus]

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

D G D G

Fa, la, la, la, lay, oh

[Verse]

They have hired men with the scythes so sharp

To cut him off at the knee

And they rolled him and tied him around the waist

C G C

They served him barbarously

D G

They have served him barbarously

[Chorus]

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

D G D G

Singing fa, la, la, la, lay, oh

[Verse]

And they have hired men with the crab-tree sticks

To cut him skin from bone

And the miller he has served him worse than that

C G C

He ground him between two stones

D G

He ground him between two stones

[Chorus]

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

D G D G

Singing fa, la, la, la, lay, oh

[Verse]

And they have wheeled him here, and they've wheeled him there

They've wheeled him to a barn

And they have a-served him a-worse than that

C G C

They've bunged him in a vat

D G

They've a-bunged him in a vat

[Chorus]

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

D G D G

Singing fa, la, la, la, lay, oh

[Verse]

Well, they have worked their will on John Barleycorn

But he lived to tell the tale

For they pour him out of an old brown jug

C G C

And they call him homebrewed ale

D G

They call him homebrewed ale

[Chorus]

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

Sing fa, la, la, lay, oh

Fa, la, la, la, it's a lovely day

D G D G

Singing fa, la, la, la, lay, oh

[Outro]

G D G C G C D G

G D G D G D G

About John Barleycorn Chords by Steeleye Span

Learn how to play John Barleycorn by Steeleye Span with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “John Barleycorn chords”, “John Barleycorn guitar chords”, or “Steeleye Span John Barleycorn 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 chords and for experienced players who want accurate John Barleycorn lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, D, G.

FAQ — John Barleycorn by Steeleye Span

How do I play "John Barleycorn" by Steeleye Span on guitar?

Open the free chords for "John Barleycorn" by Steeleye Span on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "John Barleycorn" by Steeleye Span free?

Yes. The chords for "John Barleycorn" by Steeleye Span are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "John Barleycorn" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "John Barleycorn" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "John Barleycorn"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "John Barleycorn" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "John Barleycorn" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "John Barleycorn" by Steeleye Span with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Steeleye Span below.

What key is "John Barleycorn" in?

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