The Barley and the Rye Songtext
von Bill Jones

It′s of an old country farmer living in the West Country
And he had the prettiest little wife that you ever did see
She had no money, wealth or jewellery, but the farmer did imply
That they'd both be well provided for by the barley and the rye

Now the farmer being elderly soon did tire of new wedded life
So he passed his time working and neglected his wife
Well a young laddie came a courting her when the old man wasn′t nigh
And it's oft times they'd take a tumble ′mongst the barley and the rye


Well the old man woke in the morning, and he found himself all alone
He looked out of his window, saw his wife in the corn
And a young laddie lay beside her, which caused the man to cry
He said "wife, wife I wonder at you for the spoiling of our rye"

"Oh husband" she cried, "oh husband, it′s the like I've never done before
And if you′ve got one friend love, I've another in store
He′s a friend love who'd not desert you if you would him employ
He′s got money enough love to pay for both the barley and the rye"

Well the farmer took on the young lad for his working day it was long
And nine months being over, his pretty wife bore a son
And as she sat and nursed the child, she wondered by and by
Was the baby born for the farmer or the barley and the rye?