Ballad (1/2)

&ep;&ep;johnbarleycorn:aballad

&ep;&ep;therewasthreekingsintotheeast,

&ep;&ep;threekingsbothgreatandhigh,

&ep;&ep;andtheyhaeswornasoleoath

&ep;&ep;johnbarleycornshoulddie.

&ep;&ep;theytookaploughandplough'dhidown,

&ep;&ep;putclodsuponhishead,

&ep;&ep;andtheyhaeswornasoleoath

&ep;&ep;johnbarleycornwasdead.

&ep;&ep;butthecheerfulspringcakindlyon,

&ep;&ep;andshow'rsbegantofall;

&ep;&ep;johnbarleycorngotupagain,

&ep;&ep;andsoresurpris'dtheall.

&ep;&ep;thesultrysunsofsuerca,

&ep;&ep;andhegrewthickandstrong;

&ep;&ep;hisheadweelar#039;dwi'pointedspears,

&ep;&ep;thatnooneshouldhiwrong.

&ep;&ep;thesoberautuenter'dld,

&ep;&ep;whenhegrewwanandpale;

&ep;&ep;hisbendingjointsanddroopinghead

&ep;&ep;show'dhebegantofail.

&ep;&ep;hiscoloursicken'dreandre,

&ep;&ep;hefadedintoage;

&ep;&ep;andthenhiseneesbegan

&ep;&ep;toshowtheirdeadlyrage.

&ep;&ep;they'vetaenaweapon,longandsharp,

&ep;&ep;andcuthibytheknee;

&ep;&ep;thentiedhifastuponacart,

&ep;&ep;likearogueforforgerie.

&ep;&ep;theylaidhidownuponhisback,

&ep;&ep;andcudgell'dhifullsore;

&ep;&ep;theyhunghiupbeforethestor

&ep;&ep;andturnedhio'erando'er.

&ep;&ep;theyfilledupadarksopit

&ep;&ep;withwatertothebri

&ep;&ep;theyheavedinjohnbarleycorn,

&ep;&ep;therelethisinkorswi

&ep;&ep;theylaidhioutuponthefloor,

&ep;&ep;toworkhifartherwoe;

&ep;&ep;andstill,assignsoflifeappear'd,

&ep;&ep;theytoss'dhitoandfro.

&ep;&ep;theywasted,o'erascorchingfla,

&ep;&ep;therrowofhisbones;

&ep;&ep;butallerus'dhiworstofall,

&ep;&ep;forhecrush'dhibetweentwostones.