"John Barleycorn" is an English and Scottish folk song, with the eponymous protagonist being a personification of barley and of the beer made from it. The song may have its origins in ancient English or Scottish folklore, with written evidence of the song dating it at least as far back as the 16th century. The song is listed as number 164 in the Roud Folk Song Index. The oldest versions are Scottish and include the Scots poem "Quhy Sowld Nocht Allane Honorit Be".

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