John Barleycorn Must Die (traditional)

[@thomasmcnamara5929]

Extremely well played! 😍

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks Thomas!

[@doofus0123]

Before I head your excellent version I was always partial to the Steeleye Span version. Thx for your awesome rendition!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much xxx

[@lauriecox3578]

Love it. Thank you ❤

[@pelicanpen]

So glad. Thanks!

[@markhaze8684]

Once again....Thanks for this really fantastic version...Greetings from Italy...

[@pelicanpen]

Grazie per avermi ascoltato... thank you for listening x

[@markhaze8684]

@@pelicanpen You are welcome!....Prego..

[@lloydschlomer76]

Very great harmonization. And your combined love of music shines through in this rendition. Excellent

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much for taking the time to listen and comment ☀️

[@DarkShadow-rr6sm]

Most likely the loveliest version i've heard

[@pelicanpen]

Aw. Thanks so very much xxx

[@pelicanpen]

❤❤

[@Lorenzo-c3s5q]

Bellissima versione!

[@pelicanpen]

Grazie mille per avere ascoltato!

[@RoundRockMinistry]

An excellent rendition of, as you have rightly and truthfully acknowledged. Traffic's version of the song. Beautiful voices and great pickin', mates!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks Gil. It is a fabulous song.... such a good story which you can visualise like a movie as you sing it. Traffic did it proud indeed!

[@ancientfifer]

Lovely! Well Played! I saw Traffic perform this in November 1971 in William and Mary Hall in Virginia. That performance etched in my mind forever. Seeing Chris Wood play flute on it launched my journey with the flute.

[@pelicanpen]

Chris was a brilliant player, particularly on that album. You are so lucky to have seen the band. They never made it to Australia sadly. Xxx

[@georgelasko8346]

Thank you. Done very well, and a wonderful song. Thanks again.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment too ❤

[@pauloironleg5845]

Thanks for playing it in this key, so that even people with voices other than Steve W. can try to sing it. But performing it as well as you is difficult because you are so good.

[@restlessmusicvault9588]

Thanks! It's such a great song. Glad to hear that you are singing it!

[@pelicanpen]

@@restlessmusicvault9588 What the Vault said!

[@marcillioficino4663]

The sound of that 12 string is brilliant.

[@pelicanpen]

@@marcillioficino4663 it's a lovely Australian MATON

[@brettspotts1917]

Just hearing you guys for the first time! Awesome version of this song!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much Brett. Glad you liked it.

[@bodegabonsai7069]

I saw Traffic perform John Barley Corn at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1972. Steve Winwood guitar and vocals, Chris Wood flute and if memory serves, Jim Capaldi tambourine/backing vocals. Getting old isn't much fun, but we did get to see the good stuff.

[@davidbeyers7054]

Yeah, really great cover of JBC. Some nice picking right there.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much!

[@deegeraghty9426]

Lovely version of this song. I can hear every word clearly. Thanks so much.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for listening!🙏

[@sunlotus8]

beautiful!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks!

[@jandenijmegen5842]

Great stuff, I enjoyed it. Amazing you're still playing this song after 50 years. On the other hand I am listening to this song for almost as long. But now it's time to have a drink.

[@pelicanpen]

A song as good as this .... you could sing for 100 years!!!

[@alienalajna]

A beautiful rendition of a great classic. Excellent singing and playing as well. (Are you sure that's only a twelve-string guitar? Sounds like 24 to me!) A comment about the language: I hear you sing "cut", whereas Winwood seems to sing "cort him skin from bone". This seemed an odd, old term, but after living in a Italy for years and learning Italian, it made more sense. Here "riso decorticato" means rice from which the husk has been removed. It also refers to the practice of skinning animals - including the occasional unfortunate human, flaying, in other words. As Apollo did to Marsyas (spitefully, because Marsyas outdid Apollo musically, I think), or as happened to various martyrs. John Barleycorn passed his own Stations of the Cross, and gave his life so that we may drink and be merry.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much for the interesting comment! I will do some research on the lyrics.

[@alienalajna]

I''ve listened to ten or twelve renditions of the song, and everyone sings "cut", except for The Watersons, in their (or his) a cappella version, where it's "cort". I've checked the etymology via Wiki, which does not support my brilliant hypothesis. But "cut" has not the same sense as "skin" or "flay" or "cort", so I like "cort" better. But I hate to quibble - it's still a great old tune, one way or the other. If I wanted to quibble, it would just be a sign that I need to lighten up and have a drink. In my old homebrew book (by Charlie Papazian), a few very old ale recipes are recounted. In one, called, I think, "Old Cock Ale", one is instructed to obtain an old cock (in the sense of rooster, please!), and to "flea him (flay him?)" - parenthesis in the original - then to let him marinate in the barley malt and hops for a few weeks. I haven't tried the recipe, as I haven't an old cock available. Papazian also gives us a clever motto, inspired by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young's "Déja vu": "Déja brew - we have all been beer before." @@pelicanpen

[@pelicanpen]

Hilarious! I have the same home brew book too where you stick an old rooster in the brew. Sounds exceedingly delightful I must say. In our Penguin book of British Folk Songs it does say "cut", however I rather like your etymology. Thanks for the very interesting discussion. x

[@alienalajna]

@@pelicanpen Ah, so we are literally on the same page! Of a book I had thought rather esoteric! I no longer brew (cue sad violin music), for the sake of other commitments, but I have my replacement copy of Papazian, the Homebrew Bible (cue thunderbolts). I had lent my first to an Italian friend who wanted to take up home brewing, and don't you know, I never got it back! But I don't mind, as I'm sure it has been worthwhile.

[@radiojet1429]

One of the best versions, ever - thanks!

[@pelicanpen]

Wow! Thanks so much!!!

[@Longtack55]

First heard this at the Banks Peninsula Folk Club in Bedford Row, Christchurch, New Zealand in 1973. A great and tragic story but a gift to drinkers and millers.

[@pelicanpen]

Good to hear from you. Do you still live in New Zealand?

[@dinofloyd5271]

I am so in love with your beautiful story from the old times. Greetings from Greece!!

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you and greetings to you too!

[@williamsuper213]

A great job! I just love this song. I first heard it by Traffic and you do a beautiful job!

[@pelicanpen]

@@williamsuper213 thanks so much! IT is a great song!

[@williamsuper213]

@@pelicanpen is there a way to purchase this song on iTunes or something?

[@pelicanpen]

@@williamsuper213 it's on an album called "and both shall row..." I will check to see if I can give you a link.

[@pelicanpen]

music.apple.com/us/album/and-both-shall-row/1500356308

[@williamsuper213]

@@pelicanpen I tried the LINK to download but it didn’t work..

[@Ray-yl5jt]

Damn! That is absolutely beautiful to watch and listen to!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much for listening and for taking the time to comment x

[@JosephDowling-i9b]

Strayed from coastal Alabama. Saw Tull, the Stones, led zep, dire straits, many others in England and other parts of Europe before wandering toward Asia and Oz. Made it home after 37 yrs. Rested up, rarin ta go again.

[@atvseatexchange2176]

Fantastic, big fan of that song for a long time.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for listening!

[@atvseatexchange2176]

@@pelicanpen It also helped me fill in some of the words I wasn't sure about. Thanks again.

[@pelicanpen]

@@atvseatexchange2176 Terrific!

[@silverchessdragon]

Been enjoying this again as I frequently do, and I just wanted to say thank you again for all its wonderful positivity and joy in this uplifting performance.

[@pelicanpen]

Huge thanks for your lovely response xxx

[@hni7458]

Great! Thank you kindly for uploading.

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you kindly a) for listening and b) for taking time to send a message.

[@Julian-je8jj]

Preciosa versión. Muy digna y ......muy natural❤❤❤❤

[@pelicanpen]

@@Julian-je8jj Diolch yn fawr! Thanks very much. Muy gracias!!

[@jonathanpatterson2882]

great cover thanx so much

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for listening!

[@karlforster4907]

Wonderful cover. Traffic was the first time I heard this.

[@pelicanpen]

@@karlforster4907 That's where we first heard this grand song too. Thanks for listening x

[@averyvolk3355]

Oh my God. I LOVE THIS AND I LOVE THE TWO OF YOU. Thank you for sharing your music and the beauty of your souls with all of us. I love this song so dearly and I had such a good time singing along with you. Much needed medicine for my soul. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ♥️ 🙌

[@pelicanpen]

Aw thanks! So pleased that you love the song x

[@jonathanwalters999]

This is a beautiful version of this wonderful ballad. Thank you so much for sharing it!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for lending your ears!

[@billyshane3804]

Roger and Penny are sheer joy. Thank you for everything you post. Love your work. Absolutely beautiful. God bless you both.

[@pelicanpen]

So pleased you are enjoying the music

[@georgeshotzbarger3955]

👍 The hand gestures added another nice layer of "story-telling" to that most wonderful ballad‼️

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks George for taking the time to communicate. x

[@j311ycaa5]

Hands-down my favorite cover of this song, and your story makes it that much better. Cheers from the United States!

[@pelicanpen]

So kind of you to comment. It IS a great song and our version pays a big tribute to Traffic's 60's epic. Best wishes to you from the other side of the globe!

[@mimmooliveri4163]

Absolutely beautifully done!! Great version. ❤

[@pelicanpen]

@@mimmooliveri4163 lovely to hear from you. Thanks so much!

[@johndelucia8856]

PENNY DAVIES & ROGER ILOTT, LOVE IT. I LOVE THE 12 STRING GUITAR. PENNY KILLS IT ON THE WORDS. GOD BLESS YOU. LISTENING FROM THE USA

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks John, much appreciated.

[@auralprods]

Zero mistakes. Amazing 👏

[@pelicanpen]

@@auralprods thanks!

[@davidmccann9811]

My favourite recording of it to listen to.

[@pelicanpen]

@@davidmccann9811 wow, that's lovely!

[@silverchessdragon]

This is such a beautiful performance, total delight! Thank you so much.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much for listening

[@volkerke5315]

Wunderschön , greetings from Germany!

[@pelicanpen]

Danke!

[@johnregan8327]

Brilliant stuff 👏..

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for listening x

[@judyharter8265]

Beautiful rendition of this! Love the mandolin with a 12 string.

[@pelicanpen]

THank you!!!

[@NickRoman]

You must also try the John Renbourn group version

[@pelicanpen]

We will have a think about that...❤

[@reliablebow]

Sounding Grand!🕯️✨🎶

[@pelicanpen]

@@reliablebow thanks for your message x

[@greglee101]

You bring a smile to my soul.

[@pelicanpen]

Oh thank you. You bring one to ours!

[@100Noddy]

Love the sound of the 12 strings. Beautiful.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks Noddy for listening!

[@garrington120]

Love this great version of the Traffic song

[@pelicanpen]

Much much older than Traffic of course....a great song..and thanks for your appreciation

[@garrington120]

@@pelicanpen Agreed but only really popularized by Steve Winwood and Traffic for our generation ( I,m 70 ) and have loved the song and all associated with the 60s and 70 s . My biggest disappointment was that Jethro Tull who have been my favourite band of that era , never recorded JB ( apart from the abortion with that Greek guy ) with Anderson on flute and vocals it could have been amazing !!

[@pelicanpen]

@@garrington120 that is definitely where we both first heard it!!!!

[@aureliahunfeld7280]

Fantastic , the people sing fenomenaal 🎉❤

[@pelicanpen]

@@aureliahunfeld7280 thanks 😊

[@Salieri47]

Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@pelicanpen]

It's such a grand song! Glad you enjoyed our version.

[@paulbond4812]

I like your version of the song very much.The harmonies do a lot to lift the lyric . I sang a solo out-of- doors version in a hay paddock in Motueka valley ( complete with pitch fork ).I think it was during the lock down when I uploaded it to youtube ..Cheers

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks! I will check out your version. Ours was done during lockdown too!

[@Dragon_rls]

That was fantastic. Thanks so much for posting. A really fantastic version, of a great song.

[@pelicanpen]

thank you so much xxxx

[@kathyandgeorgestephens7504]

Just discovered your vid channel. Great stuff, and great to see you again, if only virtually! Come back to Maine when you're able!

[@pelicanpen]

Great to hear from you! Oh Maine...how we wish!!!!

[@hansstekelenburg6390]

An absolute charming version

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you Hans. So kind of you to take the time to comment. x

[@MariaPerez-gb6tf]

A very good versión.

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you Maria!

[@TheGWR0-4-0]

Great song, really enjoyed your rendition. Thanks for sharing!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for listening and for taking the time to comment x

[@gregd8427]

Only a few seconds in and this is already outstanding.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks Greg! Hope it continued to be good right to the end! Thanks so much for listening! P&R

[@gregd8427]

@@pelicanpen It did. Thank you for sharing!

[@violet807]

I love this song, the steely guitar drove the distress right out of me.

[@pelicanpen]

Happy to hear that! X

[@scrimshank1]

Very nice version. First heard the song by John Renbourne which is top notch as well.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for listening first of all, and for taking the time to comment...you are very kind. X

[@miccar2005]

Thank you. Beautiful!

[@pelicanpen]

THANKS MICHELE!

[@auralprods]

Yes! This is very good 👍

[@pelicanpen]

@@auralprods thanks for listening

[@sdeugdad]

Wonderful cover of this old man JB. I remember Jethro Tull and Traffic. Congratulations from France.

[@pelicanpen]

Merci bien!

[@CrimsongKing]

Awesome !!!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks!

[@jamiekane8339]

Very nice! We really enjoyed it. Thank you for posting.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. We really appreciate your feedback.

[@timothymeadows8326]

You have a nice voice Penny, reminds me a bit of one of my favorite artists Loreena Mckennitt :)

[@pelicanpen]

@@timothymeadows8326 that's great! Thanks!

[@romanticoide75]

Bravissimi!!! This is my favourite ballad!!!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. It's SUCH a great song and on it goes, hundreds of years after someone thought of it!!!

[@JPhilipCoombs]

Very nice version! Being a hacker of the 12 string, I enjoyed not just the guitar playing, but the harmony with the mando; also the voices.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for listening Phil. Keep on jangling!

[@bobjolly7795]

I love this song and you’ve done it justice

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks Bob. It's a great song!

[@Cotictimmy]

Great Duo! 😊

[@pelicanpen]

Lovely to hear from you!

[@meazmo]

nice picking and a terrific version

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you!!!

[@theab7123]

wonderful! and the accompanying birds are a unique addition :)

[@pelicanpen]

So pleased you enjoy our version. And the birds are pleased also!

[@pamkoonsHubbysinging]

This is so excellent!!

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you!

[@JaydeepMajumdar55]

Excellent , very heart touching. Thank you very much Penny & Rogers

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you for listening!!!! Lovely to hear from you.

[@noir2ciel]

Really really great! Thanks for this beautiful cover!

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you!

[@christophepical5933]

Keep it simple! 😉 Traffic, BST, CSNY, Joni Mitchell... is what I was exposed to in the late 70s, when at school, it was the top50 of the days that was popular.

[@nacho76]

Beautifully played and sang!❤

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks! Such a great song!

[@michaelbrand8279]

Beautiful version of this old English song!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks friend!

[@tigercat73]

Without doubt the best cover of this great song I've ever heard. Absolutely awesome very simple but yall definitely knocked it out of the park. I love music I can feel!!!

[@pelicanpen]

Wow, thanks Tiger! So kind of you to comment after listening.

[@alessandroventuri3666]

Amazing!!!!!!

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you for listening!

[@infledermaus]

Fantastic! Madam, you have a beautiful voice! Oh, and you play MY instrument! Yay, mandolins!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much. It's a great song isn't it!

[@TheRocker27]

Cool. Very nice. Sounds good. 🤘🃏🇺🇸🎸

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks so much!

[@paulaweizer9916]

Love your rendition of this amazing piece !!

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you Paula. Such a great song! It practically sings itself!

[@spikeokc]

Very, VERY WELL DONE, Penny and Roger!!! I LOVE this song because I, too, sang harmony on this in an acoustic duo upon my insistence! GREAT JOB on a GREAT SONG!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks! Such a great song! Is your version on YT? Best wishes.

[@spikeokc]

@@pelicanpen No, unfortunately we never filmed it and I can't even find my audio copy, thus the late reply. When I find it I will post it and send it to you. Cheers!

[@pelicanpen]

@@spikeokc That will be grand! Thanks so much.

[@johnbrereton5229]

Excellent in every aspect, well done !

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you John for taking the time to send us this positive feedback. Much appreciated.

[@erpata7a]

BRAVI !! stupenda esecuzione!! Marvelous execution !

[@pelicanpen]

Diolch yn fawr! Thank you very much!!!

[@davematson939]

Beautiful! Thanks for this.

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you!

[@JosephDowling-i9b]

Saw Jethro tull back in early 70s or maybe late 60s do this song in London.

[@pelicanpen]

I never knew JT did the song. Saw them in Sydney in the 70's sometime... always loved them too ...

[@chriskris4288]

Perfect harmony, well taken,one of my favourite track.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for taking the time to listen and to comment. Much appreciated!

[@wayfaringstranger19]

Исполнение потрясающе 🔥

[@neilthompson8668]

Excellent Thank you very much

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks for listening!

[@RADLADRICK]

That guitar sounds amazing and your one hell of a picker. Both very talented !

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks ... another great song!!!

[@tomgaylord1601]

A wonderful cover.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks!

[@stevechurch4728]

yes enjoyed that thank you, the instruments sounded great together too, good choice. thanks.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks!

[@Redsince66]

Great version of this wonderful song.

[@pelicanpen]

Thank you Gerard for taking the time to make contact. Much appreciated. We LOVE the song and have been singing it since the 60's (Roger) and 70's (Penny). Traffic's version is inspiring to say the least... but there was so much cross-pollination going on back then with folk songs and electricity!

[@patrimarti]

Outstanding version, well done!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks Phil. So pleased we hit the spot!

[@ernestfoss1968]

They say "you did justice to the song" excellent

[@pelicanpen]

@@ernestfoss1968 thank you!

[@ernestfoss1968]

@@pelicanpen You are welcome some songs are bigger than People they have history, feeling.

[@pelicanpen]

@@ernestfoss1968 Very True!

[@treadman26]

Great rendition!

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks!

[@Caravaggio-ws3zs]

AWESOMEEEEEEEEEE VERSION.THANKS

[@pelicanpen]

Thank YOU!

[@robertbooth3699]

The National Anthem of Brewers worldwide. Thanks!

[@pelicanpen]

Glad you liked our version x