They laid him out upon the floor, To work him farther woe, And still, as signs of life appeared, They tossed him to and fro. They took a plough and plough'd him down, Put clods upon his head, And they hae sworn a solemn oath John Barleycorn was dead. They heaved in John Barleycorn, There let him sink or swim. But the cheerful Spring … They wasted, o'er a scorching flame, The marrow of his bones; But a miller us'd him … They took a plough and plough'd him down, put clods upon his head, and they hae sworn a solemn oath John Barleycorn was dead. They laid him out upon the floor, To work him further woe; And still, as signs of life appear'd, They toss'd him to and fro. They wasted, o'er a scorching flame, The marrow of his bones; But a miller us'd him … They heaved in John Barleycorn, There let him sink or swim. John Barleycorn Robert Burns . They laid him out upon the floor, To work him farther woe; And still, as signs of life appear'd, They toss'd him to and fro. But the cheerful Spring came kindly on' and show'rs began to fall. There was three kings into the east, Three kings both great and high, And they hae sworn a solemn oath John Barleycorn should die. Poetry - Robert Burns - John Barleycorn - There was three kings into the east. They heaved in John Barleycorn, There let him sink or swim. They wasted, o'er a scorching flame, The marrow of his bones; But a miller used him worst of … There was three kings into the east, three kings both great and high, and they hae sworn a solemn oath John Barleycorn must die.