John Barleycorn Lyrics

Lyric discussion by RayMan 

Cover art for John Barleycorn lyrics by Traffic

Yes, superficially it IS about making beer. But the process is tied to the parable of Christ. "Unless a grain of wheat (or barley!) dies, it just remains a single grain. But IF it dies, it gives rise to thousands more just like it". So the process of making spirits (like beer) is paralleled with the process of being reborn in the spirit! As Benjamin Franklin once said "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!". Amen!