THE BARLEY STRAW

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Song Title
THE BARLEY STRAW
Writers
Peter Bellamy, Royston Wood, Heather Wood
Publisher
TOTAL MUSIC SERVICES, INC. (BMI)
% Publisher Controls
100%
Territory Controlled
USA
Themes/Keywords
1960's, Barn, Daughter, Farmer, Marriage, Sex, Sleep
Lyrics
There was a jolly old farmer
Lived in the West Country,
He had the finest daughter
That ever I did see.
There was a wealthy squire,
A-dwellling there close by,
And he swore he wouldn’t be easy
Until he’d had a try.

So he dressed himself as a tinker,
And he started along his way,
Until he came to the farmer’s house
A-standing there close by.
It’s have you got any kettles,
Any pots and pans to mend,
Or have you got any lodgings,
My being a single man.

Oh no, replied the pretty maid,
Thinking he meant no harm,
But you can stay with us all night
If you sleep in our old barn.
So after supper was over,
She went to make his bed;
The tinker folllwing after,
He stole her maidenhead.

The tinker being nimble,
Jumped up and barred the door,
And she slept all night in the tinker’s arms
Among the barley straw.
Well, since I slept with you all night,
Don’t think of me none the worse,
Then out from his pocket,
He pulled a heavy purse.

Here’s twenty pound of golden store
To pay the nurse’s fee,
And if ever I come this way again,
Fair maid I’ll marry thee.
Well, since you cannot marry me,
Pray tell it to me your name,
Likewise your occupation
And where and whence you came.
He whispered softly in her ear,
“Oh call me Davy Shaw,
And if ever I come this way again,
Remember the barley straw.”

Well, six months being it over,
And nine months being gone,
This pretty little fair maid
Was the mother of a son.
The farmer cried oh daughter dear,
Who has done you this wrong,
I’m afraid it was the old tinker
Who slept in our old barn.

Recordings

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