I'm surprised to see that the overused and misapplied term "underrated" was used 12 years ago. I thought it was a recent thing. The people who write it apparently have no clue as to how popular Steve Winwood (or Traffic, or Blind Faith, or Spencer Davis Group, or Jefferson Airplane, or Spirit, or Tull, or ...) has been for decades. I bought John Barleycorn Must Die when it was released. I was in high school. You can say "OK Boomer", but Steve Winwood has never been underrated by anyone I know.
Steve Winwood was never given accolades that were well deserved until 1986, when he finally won grammy for Higher Love, his work with Traffic some of his best, as well as Jim Capaldi
I will never forget the first time I heard this song, I had just started playng guitar, but it was so beautiful, I just had to learn it...that took some time, and then the singing comes in...who can do it like Steve Winwood? not me.
Remember coming home from the Fillmore East Traffic late show at 3 in the morning in 1968,9 overwhelmed by their show. Winwood, Capaldi, and Chris Wood, amazing trio.
saw Traffic in 1994 (?) they opened with John Barleycorn...it was cool: while the crew was still setting up, doing a sound check, Winwood walked to the foot of the stage, unannounced, and started playing
I can feel the October sun setting on old England, and this tune sings of the simplicity of an older time when music was art and meant to sink into your soul!
John Barleycorn is a British folksong.[1] The character of John Barleycorn in the song is a personification of the important cereal crop barley and of the alcoholic beverages made from it, beer and whisky. In the song, John Barleycorn is represented as suffering attacks, death and indignities that correspond to the various stages of barley cultivation, such as reaping and malting.
+Michael Grasseschi Thank you for the information. It is very interesting, since I ended my drinking career over 8 years ago. For me (as a recovering alcoholic), John Barleycorn is the demon, Alcohol. We even refer to this in 12 Step meetings. John Barleycorn must die, else we die... Yet, I like to hear historical accounts, when it fits :)
+Barry birkel A master craftsman who has made several albums, most notably John Barleycorn and Back in the High LIfe, playing every instrument in every song. High Praise, Indeed!
Winwood is one of Britain's greatest musicians ever: guitarist, keyboard player, songwriter and naturally gifted singer with an extremely powerful voice. But all the others were good too, Chris Wood is deeply missed, and so is Jim Capaldi, an excellent drummer IMO. I don't know about Mason. He didn't fit in with the group but some of his songs like 'feeling alright'were and still are great and always on my mind
Excellent Artist Only 14 years old when he started his musical career what a great singer and songwriter Long live Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic, And all his Solo stuff
semplicemente immensi. Thanks, Steve! Thanks, Jim! Thanks, Chris! Thanks, Traffic, avete scritto pagine memorabili della storia della musica, e non solo.
I find it hard to accept that Island Records had no more material from the 68' Fillmore West show to put on the Last Exit re-issue. Feeling Good & Blind Man are so outstanding, I can't believe the rest of the show was NOT up to those standards. What a shame no other songs were released from such a great night of music w/ only 3 guys playing!
There were three men, came out of the west Their fortunes for to try And these three men made a solemn vow John Barleycorn must die They've ploughed, they've sown, they've harrowed him in Threw clods upon his head And these three men made a solemn vow John Barleycorn was dead They've let him lie for a very long time Till the rains from heaven did fall And little sir John sprung up his head And so amazed them all They let him stand till midsummer's day Till he looked both pale and wan And little Sir John's grown a long long beard And so become a man They've hired men with the scythes so sharp To cut him off at the knee They've rolled and they tied him by the waist Serving him most barbarously They've hired men with the sharp pitchforks Who've pricked him to the heart And the loader he has served him worse than that For he's bound him to the cart They've wheeled him around and around the field Till they came onto a barn And there they made a solemn oath On poor John Barleycorn They've hired men with the crabtree sticks To cut him skin from bone And the miller he has served him worst than that For he's ground him between two stones And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl And his brandy in the glass And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl Proved the strongest man at last The huntsman he can't hunt the fox Nor so loudly to blow his horn And the tinker he can't mend kettle or pots Without a little Barleycorn
Traffic made such beautiful music, different than everyone else from that era. Steve Winwood is a master virtuoso and the best blue eyed singer ever. Chris Wood on flutes and sax was superb. Best song of Traffic.
The harmony vocals and the tamborine played by Jim Capaldi is so f...great. And I dig the acoustic guitar sound, just a sm 58 I guess. I hate all these under saddle systems for a-guitars.
@Lester Paul Your SM58 GUESS is close, but you're off by *one* digit. The Shure Microphone being used on Steve's acoustic guitar (which is a Martin D-28) is an SM57, not the 58. The SM57 and SM58 microphones are actually based on the same cartridge design. The main difference is in the Grille. The SM58 was designed for Vocal Applications, and therefore uses a ball grille with built-in pop filter to eliminate plosives, (usually, loud noises, called Pops, produced from singing/pronouncing the letter " P " too closely into the tip of the microphone). The SM57 is designed as an INSTRUMENT MICROPHONE, where a smaller grille size is more practical and plosives are less of a concern. Subsequently, the SM57 does not use a ball grille with pop filtering and instead features an integral resonator/grille assembly, where the grille is actually part of the cartridge. Additionally, the different resonator/grille assembly design of the SM57 produces a slightly higher output above 5 kHz. Although the SM57 was originally intended for instrument applications, there are plenty of examples through music history of it also being used as a vocal microphone. As a matter of fact, Steve's Vocal Mic in this video is an SM58, with the Ball Grille. *Notice the difference in the tips between his Vocal and Instrument mics. One has a Ball Grill, whereas, the mic on the acoustic is straight-tiped, without a Ball Grille.
Dennis Devine: Bro, I was lucky...I was at both concerts.(this 1 & Long Beach) And at the Hllywd Bwl w/ Winwood AND Eric Clapton in 2009, (the Blind Faith reunion tour!), some 37yrs later. Whoo-ya!
WOW WHAT A SONG!!! AN UNBELEIVABLE BALLAD,ALWAYS DUG JOHN BARLYCORN,A VERY SIMILAR SOUND LIKE JOHN RILEY,,I.E.BYRDS,,TODAYS SHIT PALES TO HITS LIKE THIS,,,,,,JESUS I MISS THE 60S AND ALL THE GOOD MUSIC THAT CAME OUT OF SAID ERA......
Traffic opened for The Grateful Dead on my the last Dead Show I will ever see. This show was beyond amazing. Glad I was able to see it in person. Traffic is a very underrated talent.
+Jack Mehoffer lol fucking lol. Some fucks don't get allegory anymore. Whiskey brewing is the moral or this tune. Just one question. How the fuck can someone so fucked up frying on acid play so cool? Must be original German shit, Me thinks.
Not that I do not love this song. What else is there like it. That tells a story in itself. When you are talented you stand out from everyone else. you do not sound like everyone else. Think of today's music and you will get your answer.
@chihawks2010 JIM CAPALDI Also is another Extremely underrated one. Not just as Great Drummer,Yes , but writer and Musician. These dudes Paved History inThe Music Field from day one.
Woke up this morning at 5 am longing to hear this song and was pleased to find this live performance. Such a melancholy song about a non-melancholy topic...and I'd forgotten what a tight, well-rehearsed band Traffic was. (As was Dave Mason in his solo career--once saw him GLARE at one of his musicians for an error in a way that scared me back in row 10.) Thanks for the upload.
Phil K I remember listening to this back in high school when it came out...I was fascinated by the ancient sound of Winwood's voice...seemed like he sang through the portals of time, he even looked the part. Was and is one of my all-time favorite albums.
JOHN BARLEYCORN El título de la canción y disco de Traffic de 1970, alude a John Barleycorn que es una tradicional canción popular británica, que alude al personaje de John Barleycorn, que es una personificación de la importante cosecha de cereales de cebada y de las bebidas alcohólicas a base de ella, sobre todo el brandy, la cerveza y el whisky. En la canción, se describen las desventuras de John Barleycorn a través de una cadena de pesares como severos ataques que le dan sufrimiento, humillaciones y finalmente le causan su muerte que vendría a ser metafóricamente la representación de las diferentes etapas del cultivo de la cebada, como es su cosecha y posterior destilería de su malta.
+john dennis I am not British, so I listened to this song for thirty years not knowing they were actually talking about wheat/ barley and the ale it produces. Feel so stupid now.
Steve Winwood's voice has stood the test of time.This man is the most underrated talent of the rock world
not by us!
I'm surprised to see that the overused and misapplied term "underrated" was used 12 years ago. I thought it was a recent thing. The people who write it apparently have no clue as to how popular Steve Winwood (or Traffic, or Blind Faith, or Spencer Davis Group, or Jefferson Airplane, or Spirit, or Tull, or ...) has been for decades. I bought John Barleycorn Must Die when it was released. I was in high school. You can say "OK Boomer", but Steve Winwood has never been underrated by anyone I know.
I loved this album when it came out; and I still love it today. Great music is timeless.
Steve Winwood was never given accolades that were well deserved until 1986, when he finally won grammy for Higher Love, his work with Traffic some of his best, as well as Jim Capaldi
I will never forget the first time I heard this song, I had just started playng guitar, but it was so beautiful, I just had to learn it...that took some time, and then the singing comes in...who can do it like Steve Winwood? not me.
Don't feel bad. Steve is Steve and none of the rest of us will ever measure up.
Remember coming home from the Fillmore East Traffic late show at 3 in the morning in 1968,9 overwhelmed by their show. Winwood, Capaldi, and Chris Wood, amazing trio.
RIP Chris Wood, you were such an essential sound to Traffic.
saw Traffic in 1994 (?) they opened with John Barleycorn...it was cool: while the crew was still setting up, doing a sound check, Winwood walked to the foot of the stage, unannounced, and started playing
WOW- a song that was a fav from the first time- a tear in my eye.
Thank God it's recorded cause we'll never ever get music like that again.
Steve Winwood one of a kind☮️☮️☮️
I can feel the October sun setting on old England, and this tune sings of the simplicity of an older time when music was art and meant to sink into your soul!
Traffic una de mí bandas favoritas.
We hear really a great song given by a great band.
John Barleycorn is a British folksong.[1] The character of John Barleycorn in the song is a personification of the important cereal crop barley and of the alcoholic beverages made from it, beer and whisky. In the song, John Barleycorn is represented as suffering attacks, death and indignities that correspond to the various stages of barley cultivation, such as reaping and malting.
+Michael Grasseschi so the song is aganst drinking? is that why john barleycorn must die?
+Michael Grasseschi With respect I think you mean an English folk song.
+Michael Grasseschi
Thank you for the information. It is very interesting, since I ended my drinking career over 8 years ago. For me (as a recovering alcoholic), John Barleycorn is the demon, Alcohol. We even refer to this in 12 Step meetings. John Barleycorn must die, else we die... Yet, I like to hear historical accounts, when it fits :)
+john dennis Because, for an alcoholic, alcohol causes all kinds of grief.
Not a 'British' folk song: I think the word you're looking for is 'English'. And I'm pretty sure Mr Winwood would agree....
WHAT A VOICE PERIOD
Winwood as gifted as any Beatle or Stone , high praise would you agree?
+Barry birkel
kao tao, barry. pleased ta meet ya, jonni.
Eerie aint they, flautists.
they be.
+Barry birkel A master craftsman who has made several albums, most notably John Barleycorn and Back in the High LIfe, playing every instrument in every song. High Praise, Indeed!
+Barry birkel I regard him very highly indeed. Gifted far more than those charlatans you mention... :)
lol... what an idiot..
Winwood is one of Britain's greatest musicians ever: guitarist, keyboard player, songwriter and naturally gifted singer with an extremely powerful voice. But all the others were good too, Chris Wood is deeply missed, and so is Jim Capaldi, an excellent drummer IMO. I don't know about Mason. He didn't fit in with the group but some of his songs like 'feeling alright'were and still are great and always on my mind
Great piece, thank you
Excellent Artist Only 14 years old when he started his musical career what a great singer and songwriter Long live Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic, And all his Solo stuff
Lo mejor de Lo mejor! Maximo!
Great album….great rock group
Some great rock tunes & jams
Very cool THANKS. I heard some inklings of Ian Anderson that I never heard before. Such talent..
i could listen to chris wood play all day...RIP
RIP Jim Capaldi
semplicemente immensi.
Thanks, Steve!
Thanks, Jim!
Thanks, Chris!
Thanks, Traffic, avete scritto pagine memorabili della storia della musica, e non solo.
This was back when there was actual musicianship
From a 1960s snob, agreed!
I love Traffic (the band) and beer!!!!!!!!!!! Here's a toast to sir Barleycorn!
He's a genius!
I find it hard to accept that Island Records had no more material from the 68' Fillmore West show to put on the Last Exit re-issue. Feeling Good & Blind Man are so outstanding, I can't believe the rest of the show was NOT up to those standards. What a shame no other songs were released from such a great night of music w/ only 3 guys playing!
There were three men, came out of the west
Their fortunes for to try
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn must die
They've ploughed,
they've sown, they've harrowed him in
Threw clods upon his head
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn was dead
They've let him lie for a very long time
Till the rains from heaven did fall
And little sir John sprung up his head
And so amazed them all
They let him stand till midsummer's day
Till he looked both pale and wan
And little Sir John's grown a long long beard
And so become a man
They've hired men with the scythes so sharp
To cut him off at the knee
They've rolled and they tied him by the waist
Serving him most barbarously
They've hired men with the sharp pitchforks
Who've pricked him to the heart
And the loader he has served him worse than that
For he's bound him to the cart
They've wheeled him around and around the field
Till they came onto a barn
And there they made a solemn oath
On poor John Barleycorn
They've hired men with the crabtree sticks
To cut him skin from bone
And the miller he has served him worst than that
For he's ground him between two stones
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl
And his brandy in the glass
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl
Proved the strongest man at last
The huntsman he can't hunt the fox
Nor so loudly to blow his horn
And the tinker he can't mend kettle or pots
Without a little Barleycorn
Some great flute work here. A travelling minstrel perhaps.
Saw them in ‘69 & ‘74 in Boston: they just got better & better. Play this tune all the time- such is the stuff of memories...
Traffic made such beautiful music, different than everyone else from that era. Steve Winwood is a master virtuoso and the best blue eyed singer ever. Chris Wood on flutes and sax was superb. Best song of Traffic.
The harmony vocals and the tamborine played by Jim Capaldi is so f...great.
And I dig the acoustic guitar sound, just a sm 58 I guess.
I hate all these under saddle systems for a-guitars.
@Lester Paul
Your SM58 GUESS is close, but you're off by *one* digit.
The Shure Microphone being used on Steve's acoustic guitar (which is a Martin D-28) is an SM57, not the 58.
The SM57 and SM58 microphones are actually based on the same cartridge design. The main difference is in the Grille. The SM58 was designed for Vocal Applications, and therefore uses a ball grille with built-in pop filter to eliminate plosives, (usually, loud noises, called Pops, produced from singing/pronouncing the letter " P " too closely into the tip of the microphone).
The SM57 is designed as an INSTRUMENT MICROPHONE, where a smaller grille size is more practical and plosives are less of a concern. Subsequently, the SM57 does not use a ball grille with pop filtering and instead features an integral resonator/grille assembly, where the grille is actually part of the cartridge.
Additionally, the different resonator/grille assembly design of the SM57 produces a slightly higher output above 5 kHz.
Although the SM57 was originally intended for instrument applications, there are plenty of examples through music history of it also being used as a vocal microphone.
As a matter of fact, Steve's Vocal Mic in this video is an SM58, with the Ball Grille. *Notice the difference in the tips between his Vocal and Instrument mics. One has a Ball Grill, whereas, the mic on the acoustic is straight-tiped, without a Ball Grille.
Chris Wood... what an awful loss....
Yes! While Ian Anderson gets so much credit Wood was largely overlooked.
Stevie after all these years is his own man , doesn't have to compete with anybody luckily passing it on to lilly
Traffic! What a band. Saw their show at Long Beach Arena back in '74. They brought the house down.
Dennis Devine: Bro, I was lucky...I was at both concerts.(this 1 & Long Beach) And at the Hllywd Bwl w/ Winwood AND Eric Clapton in 2009, (the Blind Faith reunion tour!), some 37yrs later. Whoo-ya!
Amazing song, love Traffic.
Chris Wood was a brilliant musician -- what a loss so early on in Traffic
This is my favorite song from the 1970'2 when i was a teenager, well I turned 20 in 1978, He sings to my heart which is entranced!
Chris wood the flute player RIP
Geyer Degrelle its sad 😔what a sound on the flute 👌🏻
just WHO or WHAT exactly are the 24 subhumans who voted against this song?
Berserkr they were probably not expecting an old type folk song. Fuck them anyway.
I would agree the harmonies and flute solo make it more enjoyable than the recorded version.
great musicians!
One of the greatest and amazing band of all time...
I can imagine him strolling through a Renaissance Faire as a Troubadour. Or did I really see him? Great song!!
I'm taken by Chris Wood's superb flute solo. He's seems so engrossed in his music and that's all apparent here.
I'm a big Traffic man and a big folk man and this is brilliant on both counts. So far my favourite performance of this song.
WOW WHAT A SONG!!! AN UNBELEIVABLE BALLAD,ALWAYS DUG JOHN BARLYCORN,A VERY SIMILAR SOUND LIKE JOHN RILEY,,I.E.BYRDS,,TODAYS SHIT PALES TO HITS LIKE THIS,,,,,,JESUS I MISS THE 60S AND ALL THE GOOD MUSIC THAT CAME OUT OF SAID ERA......
When I think of Celtic music, this one always tops the list...beautiful in its simplicity, didn't understand it til I started drinking though ; )
It's not 'Celtic' - English 1624.
If "Classic Rock" radio actually played good classic rock, they'd play this. But they don't.
they dont record music like this anymore. classic in many senses
this song is sooo fun to play on guitar
Dang...Traffic was great!
Arguably the most gifted British musician of his generation.
rrrayyy Stevie Winwood, thank-you for bringing me back memories of a misprint youth xx
Traffic opened for The Grateful Dead on my the last Dead Show I will ever see. This show was beyond amazing. Glad I was able to see it in person. Traffic is a very underrated talent.
I was born at 1976, so my music is 80's and 90's but i still find great songs of 70's. This is one of the greatest. Music is base of our living!!!
zakreconymis Me too but my dad was a super hippy and I was raised on all this. Best music of all time
This was a great time to be alive, and experience.
Mitici!
I love this live version of it. but here is a question is it superior to the studio version or is it the same?
Steve and Dave's harmonies are nothing short of mesmerizing..damn shame they never seen eye-to-eye, at least we got what they did together..cherish it
+harold wehner That's Jim Capaldis' harmony. Dave (I assume you mean Mason) is not in the band at this show.
Steve Winwood band very nice ! Chris Wood 1944-1983 Rip
GREAT SONG
Nice. One of my favorite Traffic songs.
Music just ain't the same anymore.
It's because lsd is hard to get now ;)
+Jack Mehoffer lol fucking lol. Some fucks don't get allegory anymore. Whiskey brewing is the moral or this tune. Just one question. How the fuck can someone so fucked up frying on acid play so cool? Must be original German shit, Me thinks.
I'm sorry. It's so easy to get lol
I love Traffic but then there is the man in blue!
What a great video. How have I missed this.
I love love love this song!!!
Usice Beatha, celtic for Water of Life, Aqua Vitae. Whiskey.
Not that I do not love this song. What else is there like it. That tells a story in itself. When you are talented you stand out from everyone else. you do not sound like everyone else. Think of today's music and you will get your answer.
@chihawks2010 JIM CAPALDI Also is another Extremely underrated one. Not just as Great Drummer,Yes , but writer and Musician. These dudes Paved History inThe Music Field from day one.
@mandoprince1 Burns definitely wrote a poem that sounds very similar to this - it must be that his version was just one of many 'john barleycorns' :)
Burns' poem is based on the 1624 English ballad.
Rock...Jazz...Celtic Folk...who else but Traffic?
English folk.
The 1st view of STEVIE from the side-behind reminded me so much of JEFF JOSEPH's organ!!!
what a tempo! excellent musicianship here! 'nuff said!
Jim Capaldi- amen.
I love music that has brass, woodwinds and other non traditional rock instruments.
Woke up this morning at 5 am longing to hear this song and was pleased to find this live performance. Such a melancholy song about a non-melancholy topic...and I'd forgotten what a tight, well-rehearsed band Traffic was. (As was Dave Mason in his solo career--once saw him GLARE at one of his musicians for an error in a way that scared me back in row 10.) Thanks for the upload.
Phil K I remember listening to this back in high school when it came out...I was fascinated by the ancient sound of Winwood's voice...seemed like he sang through the portals of time, he even looked the part. Was and is one of my all-time favorite albums.
Exquisite
stevie --that is all there is
Fantastic Band ! Fantastic performance !
On the '60's--"The music will never be that good, the dope will never be that cheap, and the sex will never be that free" Abbie Hoffman
I am inclined to agree with you. I miss all three and I am still so young. At least I still have my food and rest.
heaven help us when someone quotes Abbie Hoffman
Fine job. There's a certain 1960's innocence in the air... :D
JOHN BARLEYCORN
El título de la canción y disco de Traffic de 1970, alude a John Barleycorn que es una tradicional canción popular británica, que alude al personaje de John Barleycorn, que es una personificación de la importante cosecha de cereales de cebada y de las bebidas alcohólicas a base de ella, sobre todo el brandy, la cerveza y el whisky.
En la canción, se describen las desventuras de John Barleycorn a través de una cadena de pesares como severos ataques que le dan sufrimiento, humillaciones y finalmente le causan su muerte que vendría a ser metafóricamente la representación de las diferentes etapas del cultivo de la cebada, como es su cosecha y posterior destilería de su malta.
Exactamente.
how bout that Chris Wood? t takes a re guy to make the flute rock
Great talent
chris wood is most excellent on flute and sax.incredibly talent group.
TRUE IMMORTAL FANTASTIC BAND !!!
This is the greatest ballad I have ever heard. Some might desagree with me but I put it way ahead of Stairway to Heaven
Maybe, but great.
Professor Spano ...It’s an old song from Elizabethan days.
I love John Barleycorn, but ahead of Stairway to Heaven???
It's actually an old English folk song.
This is ahead because it is an ancient song from people of the country
Great song
Love this song so much!
Gonna learn that song and sing it and play it...God willing!
Winwood was way better than McCartney, hands down. And still is
epica band ,,,,inconfondibile per lavoce di Steve W.
And 2 people just dont get it. Great post!
did steve write this are is this a old folk song?
This is a traditional folk song, but Traffic/Stevie Winwood put their own delightful spin on it.
+john dennis I am not British, so I listened to this song for thirty years not knowing they were actually talking about wheat/ barley and the ale it produces. Feel so stupid now.
Great song but the audio is awful. Too bad.
Without a little barleycorn.
tune for the ages
Wow!!!!! Thanks for posting!!!
Momenti,di un lontano 72...quanto è incredibilmente flessibile l'essere umano.
Questa è storia...indelebile.
grandi come sempre...forever traffic!