John Barleycorn (traditional English song) - Ed and Will at Shipton Mill

One of the most well-loved of English traditional songs, sung from an animist's perspective regarding the surprising brutality and success of agriculture. This is the murder and rebirth of a vegetable deity. Which gives us ale. Very ancient, very sacred, and a very lovely song to sing.Trad, arr Will Parsons, sung y Ed Stevens and Will Parsons.With thanks to Shipton Mill (who mill all the Waitrose flour).

[@francocarotta3692]

Fantastici

[@barefootarts737]

This could be a Sacred Harp song. This suits the Shape Note tradition very well as far as I can hear.

[@jj-pz1sm]

Fabulous!! How to bring an old song to LIFE!!

[@nadiamurchie1949]

beautiful , love from scotland xx

[@alienalajna]

Marvelous! To state the obvious, the harmonies are perfect. Thank you, guys!

[@markhbfindlay]

Love this. I can't help seeing a modern combine harvester though, driven by one man (or woman!). Going to sing it anyway; love the history in it.

[@AntonyCummins]

Mint

[@davidholiday4494]

stupendous

[@100Noddy]

Fantastic.

[@sj19660]

One of our favourites

[@WillWalking]

Do you both sing it too?

[@sj19660]

@@WillWalking Only very quietly along with you- definitely not in your league

[@steintanz]

Very much enjoyed this song - thanks a lot!

[@WillWalking]

It's such a good song to sing.

[@CaptainMera]

Wonderful song guys! Thanks for sharing! ❤

[@WillWalking]

Thanks for listening! It's a classic song. This is pretty much the 70s 'Traffic' version, learmed from recordings of the 60s revival. But while walking, we learned another John Barleyvorn from a stranger on the path, which in many ways is even better. But we never recorded it. The last line goes 'may his great posterity be not lost in old England'. I don;t know why, I am stuck in a recurring infantile joke, a 10 year giggle to always hear 'posterior' when I sing this. It's the weirdest thing, a childish joke I can't shake off, and this makes it even funnier the longer it goes on. Anyway, thank you!

[@AmbassadorsOfSorrow]

❤❤❤