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Title
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Ripe and bearded barley
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Singer
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Sirman, Henry
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Notes
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Note 1
Williams, Alfred: Ms: 'I do not know whether this song is complete or not, though, considering its title it is probably exact. It was popular at Stanton Harcourt, where I obtained of Henry Serman, a farm hand.'
Williams, Alfred: WGS: 'An exquisite song, popular at Stanton Harcourt, where I obtained of Henry Serman, a farm hand.'
Williams, Alfred: Ms: 'Popular at Stanton Harcourt, where I obtained of Henry Serman, a farm hand.'
Note 2
In the Ms only the first four verses, as set out here, are noted.
In the versions published in WGS and FSUT the verses are grouped in verses of eight lines and a chorus is inserted. The manuscript contains no chorus and only sixteen lines. The published third verse is not in the manuscript. The published text follows:
Verse 1
Come out, 'tis now September,
The hunter's moon's begun,
And through the wheaten stubble,
We hear the frequent gun.
The leaves are turning yellow,
And fading into red,
While the ripe and bearded barley,
Is hanging down its head
Chorus
All among the barley,
Who would not be so blithe,
While the ripe and bearded barley
Is smiling on the scythe.
Verse 2
The wheat is like a rich man,
It's sleek and well to do;
The oats are like a pack of girls,
They're thin and dancing, too.
The rye is like a miser,
Both sulky, lean and small,
While the ripe and bearded barley
Is the monarch of them all.
Chorus
Verse 3
The spring is like a young maid,
That does not know her mind,
The summer is a tyrant,
Of most ungracious kind.
The autumn is an old friend,
That pleases all he can,
And brings the bearded barley
To glad the heart of man.
Chorus
Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2010.
