John Barleycorn
Ah, 'tis many things
said of good old John.
We can trace him back to the 12th century in England, as
the distilling of beer into stronger stuff became more common. But he first
became noted around the 1300's when Alan the Malt (Malt Alan) became the
embodiment of the distilled spirits of Scotland.
You can find other material about him if you search, but
there is a 1568 written history of good old John. The death and resurrection of
grain into the breath of the spirits.
On the following pages, you'll find a rendition of
1568's "ALLAN O' MAUT",
followed by the better known
"John Barleycorn"
by Robert Burns.
Allan o' Maut
Gude Allan o' Maut was ance ca'd Bear
And he was cadged frae wa' to wear
And draggled wi' muck, and syne wi' rain,
Till he dee'd and cam' to life again.
He first grew green, syne he grew white,
Syne a' men thocht that he was ripe;
And wi' crookit gullies and hefts o' tree
They've hewed him down right doughtily.
Syne they've set Allan up into stooks
And casten on him many pleasant looks;
They've turs'd him up syne on a sled
Till in the grain-yard they made his bed.
Then men clamb up upon a ladder,
And happit his head frae wind and weather;
They've ta'en him neist up in their arms
And made his shake-down in the barns
The hollin souples, that were sae snell,
His back they loundert, mell for mell;
Mell for mell, and baff for baff
Till his hide flew about his lugs like chaff. (more)
And he was cadged frae wa' to wear
And draggled wi' muck, and syne wi' rain,
Till he dee'd and cam' to life again.
He first grew green, syne he grew white,
Syne a' men thocht that he was ripe;
And wi' crookit gullies and hefts o' tree
They've hewed him down right doughtily.
Syne they've set Allan up into stooks
And casten on him many pleasant looks;
They've turs'd him up syne on a sled
Till in the grain-yard they made his bed.
Then men clamb up upon a ladder,
And happit his head frae wind and weather;
They've ta'en him neist up in their arms
And made his shake-down in the barns
The hollin souples, that were sae snell,
His back they loundert, mell for mell;
Mell for mell, and baff for baff
Till his hide flew about his lugs like chaff. (more)
