8 Comments on “John Barleycorn: Steeleye Span”

1. katry Says:

   
   August 31, 2010 at 10:42 am

   yousendit link:

   https://rcpt.yousendit.com/938187885/5a5920f927b7d6872b1c5b2611f9202e
2. hedley Says:

   
   August 31, 2010 at 6:31 pm

   Boxset ?
   • katry Says:

     
     August 31, 2010 at 6:37 pm

     My Dear Hedley,
     Yes, boxset.
     • hedley Says:

       
       September 1, 2010 at 8:01 am

       Ah ha ! Well, I was saving the news that they have issued the next 5 discs in similar format – its a bit expensive right now but I am tracking it ! So here is the link for “Another Parcel of Steeleye Span”
3. sblake Says:

   
   August 31, 2010 at 8:48 pm

   Although a common piece to be heard in the early live sets of Steeleye Span it was put away after the success of Steve Winwood’s version

   The lyric they use is 19th C ,but the actual lyric stems from the Robert Burns version:

   “There was three kings into the east,
   three kings both great and high,
   and they hae sworn a solemn oath
   John Barleycorn must die.”

   It is considered by Sir James Frazer, in The Golden Bough, to be proof of a pagan cult in pre-history Britain, although there is absolutely no evidence to prove it.

   In English folklore, John Barleycorn is a character who represents the crop of barley harvested each autumn. Equally as important, he symbolizes the wonderful drinks which can be made from barley — beer and whiskey — and their effects. In the traditional folksong, John Barleycorn, the character of John Barleycorn endures all kinds of indignities, most of which correspond to the cyclic nature of planting, growing, harvesting, and then death.

   The John Barleycorn character reappears in the famous cult film “The Wicker Man”
   • katry Says:

     
     September 1, 2010 at 9:21 am

     sblake,
     I have always known John Barleycorn as the personification of alcohol, but I hadn’t known the source of it.

     I knew the song John Barleycorn Must Die as well, but until I bought the first boxed set I hadn’t heard Steeleye Span sing it.
4. celestial elf Says:

   
   June 25, 2011 at 5:51 pm

   Thought you might like my machinima film,
   The Lammas Wickerman
   
   Bright Blessings
   Elf
   /|\
   • katry Says:

     
     June 25, 2011 at 9:29 pm

     Thank you, thank you-it’s amazing and gorgeous and wonderful!

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