The Barley Still Stands

A tavern folk song, Sung by one man, then the tavern joins in on the chorus, Celebration

(Verse 1)
Lift high the blackthorn cup and the oaken bowl,
The night tried to break us but never our soul!
The wheat may be trampled, the barn may be burned,
Yet here we sit laughing with the bread that we earned.
(Chorus)
Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands,
Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands!
Fill every horn, let the red river flow,
For the living, the lost, and the green we all know!
(Verse 2)
There’s honey in plenty where the wild bees have been,
Kept safe through the fire for the bold and the keen!
A shield-maiden’s dancing though her shield’s split clean through,
She laughs it’ll cradle the child that is due.
(Chorus)
Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands,
Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands!
Fill every horn, let the red river flow,
For the living, the lost, and the green we all know!
(Verse 3)
We borrowed the foe’s wine and we drank their cellars dry,
Their silver’s now buttons on a ploughboy’s goodbye!
The fiddler lost fingers but gained twice the fire,
He plays with his elbows and the rafters leap higher!
(Chorus)
Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands,
Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands!
Fill every horn, let the red river flow,
For the living, the lost, and the green we all know!
(Verse 4)
Sing soft for the quiet ones who’ll never more dine,
Their names are carved gentle on the hazel and vine.
Yet every seed fallen makes ten thousand more,
And the earth keeps her children through winter and war.
(Chorus)
Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands,
Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands!
Fill every horn, let the red river flow,
For the living, the lost, and the green we all know!
(Verse 5)
So pass me the roast and the blackberry pie,
We’ll feast till the dawn pales the stars in the sky!
For the fields will grow green and the forest will call,
And the barley still stands when the mighty ones fall!
(Final Chorus (whole hall roaring))
Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands!
Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands!
We’ll drink to the living, we’ll drink to the brave,
Till the God of green places digs our own merry grave!

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(Verse 1) Lift high the blackthorn cup and the oaken bowl, The night tried to break us but never our soul! The wheat may be trampled, the barn may be burned, Yet here we sit laughing with the bread that we earned. (Chorus) Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands, Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands! Fill every horn, let the red river flow, For the living, the lost, and the green we all know! (Verse 2) There’s honey in plenty where the wild bees have been, Kept safe through the fire for the bold and the keen! A shield-maiden’s dancing though her shield’s split clean through, She laughs it’ll cradle the child that is due. (Chorus) Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands, Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands! Fill every horn, let the red river flow, For the living, the lost, and the green we all know! (Verse 3) We borrowed the foe’s wine and we drank their cellars dry, Their silver’s now buttons on a ploughboy’s goodbye! The fiddler lost fingers but gained twice the fire, He plays with his elbows and the rafters leap higher! (Chorus) Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands, Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands! Fill every horn, let the red river flow, For the living, the lost, and the green we all know! (Verse 4) Sing soft for the quiet ones who’ll never more dine, Their names are carved gentle on the hazel and vine. Yet every seed fallen makes ten thousand more, And the earth keeps her children through winter and war. (Chorus) Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands, Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands! Fill every horn, let the red river flow, For the living, the lost, and the green we all know! (Verse 5) So pass me the roast and the blackberry pie, We’ll feast till the dawn pales the stars in the sky! For the fields will grow green and the forest will call, And the barley still stands when the mighty ones fall! (Final Chorus (whole hall roaring)) Hey! The barley still stands, the barley still stands! Though the reaper rode heavy with iron in his hands! We’ll drink to the living, we’ll drink to the brave, Till the God of green places digs our own merry grave!

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