63 Sentences With "John Barleycorn" | Random Sentence Generator

" The New York Times took a cheekier approach with its front page headline: "John Barleycorn Died Peacefully at the Toll of 12.

Reading "John Barleycorn" a century after it was published, one is tempted to conclude that London was a terrible sot, and to wonder how he couldn't recognize his own bluster as further evidence of the problem he swore he didn't have.

John Barleycorn is an autobiographical novel by Jack London dealing with his enjoyment of drinking and struggles with alcoholism. It was published in 1913. The title is taken from the British folksong "John Barleycorn".

To them, John Barleycorn sends clear visions of the eventual pointlessness of life and love and struggle.

Gordon, G. Gordon) - 4:15 #"Goin' Home" (R. Gordon, G. Gordon) - 2:57 #"John Barleycorn" (Traditional; arr. and adapt.

In English folklore, the figure of John Barleycorn in the folksong of the same name is a personification of 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.

The western end (Junction 1) of the M27 motorway is at Cadnam. Surrounding villages are Copythorne to the northeast, and Bartley to the southeast. There are a number of pubs in Cadnam, including the White Hart (after White Hart), and The Sir John Barleycorn (after John Barleycorn). There is also a hotel, The Bartley Lodge Hotel, and a Methodist church.

Bing Crosby linked dialogue and songs from the soundtrack and recorded "When You’re in Love" and "John Barleycorn" separately for inclusion in the album. "When You’re in Love" had been essayed by Julie Andrews and Everett Sloane in the film and it was fitting that Crosby should add his own version. "John Barleycorn" had been sung by Crosby in the film but it was decided to make a longer rendering as a finale. The songs used in the soundtrack were recorded on October 31 and early in November 1955.

"I see the earth and skies as my home, and this room as my pants. What are you, gentlemen, doing in my pants?" Liu Ling and his beliefs about drinking are discussed in Jack London's autobiographical novel John Barleycorn.

A Little Light Music (1992) is a Jethro Tull live album. All songs were recorded during a semi-acoustic European tour in May 1992. Greek singer George Dalaras participates and sings a duet with Ian Anderson in the song "John Barleycorn".

Pollen is the sequel to Vurt and concerns the ongoing struggle between the real world and the ' world. When concerning the "" world, some references to Greek mythology are noticeable, including Persephone and Demeter, the river Styx and Charon, and Hades (portrayed by the character John Barleycorn).

In 1991, Radioactive Records released "Blacker Than Black" in European territories on CD, 7" and 12" vinyl backed with a cover version of Velvet Underground's "Candy Says" and Hammer and Tongs album cut "Bold John Barleycorn", which had been omitted from the band's international album release.

Noke popularised this with his series of Dickens characters. Character Jugs varied from the traditional Toby Jugs in that they only featured the head and shoulders of a character. They were also more brightly coloured than the traditional Toby Jug. Doulton first introduced these character jugs in 1934 with Noke's own John Barleycorn.

"Seeing pink elephants" is a euphemism for drunken hallucination caused by alcoholic hallucinosis or delirium tremens. The term dates back to at least the early 20th century, emerging from earlier idioms about snakes and other creatures. An alcoholic character in Jack London's 1913 novel John Barleycorn is said to hallucinate "blue mice and pink elephants".

Pollen is the sequel to Vurt and concerns the ongoing struggle between the real world and the virtual world. When concerning the virtual world, some references to Greek mythology are noticeable, including Persephone and Demeter, the river Styx and Charon, and Hades (portrayed by the character John Barleycorn). The novel is set in Manchester.

London, in his autobiographical novel John Barleycorn, describes how in his youth he bought a sloop called the Razzle Dazzle from an oyster pirate called French Frank. In The Cruise of the Dazzler, the captain of the Dazzler is known as French Pete, who, like French Frank, drinks to the success of business ventures. London himself became an oyster pirate., from chapter 7.

In Welcome to the Canteen [CD booklet]. Universal-Island Records Ltd. This album was set for release in early 1971 but cancelled for unknown reasons, though Side A eventually appeared as bonus tracks on the 1999 reissue of John Barleycorn Must Die. By the time of their next tour, Traffic had expanded with the additions of Dave Mason, Jim Gordon, and Reebop Kwaku Baah.

Their first three singles were "Paper Sun", "Hole in My Shoe", and "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush". Traffic disbanded in 1969, during which time Winwood joined Blind Faith, then reunited in 1970 to release the album John Barleycorn Must Die. The band's line-up varied from this point until they disbanded again in 1974. A partial reunion, with Winwood and Capaldi, took place in 1994.

"Joy Ride on Memory Lane Review", Shindig, Vol 4 (24 November 2011) Cold Spring Records 2011 dark folk compilation album John Barleycorn Reborn: Rebirth included The Story's ritualistic celebration piece "All Hallow's Eve". 2018 saw the release of psychedelic folk rock release The Dawn is Crowned with Opium Tears which brought together the first ever digital release of their 2005 vinyl lp, alongside 5 esoteric, darkly oblique, progressive psychedelic rock songs.

Fines and stiff jail sentences curtailed their activities. By the time Norris held a mock funeral parade to "bury John Barleycorn" in 1919, the Acre had become a part of Fort Worth history. The name continues to be associated with the southern end of Fort Worth.Fort Worth Daily Democrat, April 10, 1878, April 18, 1879, July 18, 1881. Oliver Knight, Fort Worth, Outpost on the Trinity (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1953).

Some of the original members are still around the club (Barry Bridgman, Colin Few ~ President, Ken Walker, Garry Barter, Nicky Cadle, Terry Welsh). Nomads have had several temporary homes over the years. The “John Barleycorn”, Great Southsea St., which was its first home and now has been turned into a private dwelling. The Royal Sailors Home Club, Queen Street from 1981 and Watersedge Park Community Centre which became its clubhouse from 1987.

In March 1912, Griffo requested to be sent to the New York workhouse, partly a victim of alcoholism, which had affected him intermittently throughout his career."John Barleycorn Once Again King", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, pg. 34, 24 March 1912 On 11 July 1912, he was briefly jailed for "almstaking" or begging, an arrest that probably would not have been made in more recent times. He had been arrested previously for begging.

Heinold's First and Last Chance, "Jack London's Rendezvous" While at Berkeley, London continued to study and spend time at Heinold's saloon, where he was introduced to the sailors and adventurers who would influence his writing. In his autobiographical novel, John Barleycorn, London mentioned the pub's likeness seventeen times. Heinold's was the place where London met Alexander McLean, a captain known for his cruelty at sea. London based his protagonist Wolf Larsen, in the novel The Sea-Wolf, on McLean.

"I Belong To Glasgow" is a song written and recorded by the music hall entertainer Will Fyffe, in 1920. It has also been performed by Danny Kaye, Eartha Kitt, Gracie Fields and Kirk Douglas. According to Albert Mackie's The Scotch Comedians (1973), Fyffe got the inspiration for the song from a drunk he met at Glasgow Central Station. The drunk was "genial and demonstrative" and "laying off about Karl Marx and John Barleycorn with equal enthusiasm".

The music on McDonald and Giles contains many of the pastoral and musically complex elements of King Crimson, while generally avoiding that band's darker tendencies. The song "Flight of the Ibis" has a similar melody and rhythm to King Crimson's "Cadence and Cascade", with different lyrics. The album contains a guest appearance by Steve Winwood, playing organ and piano on "Turnham Green". Winwood's group Traffic were working on John Barleycorn Must Die at Island Studios at the same time.

Mr. Grandours (in French, literally "large bear") is the title character from the French fairy tale The Wizard King (from Andrew Lang's The Yellow Fairy Book), about a shapeshifting wizard king; this is revealed in the Fables Encyclopedia. The local Imperial Governor instructed Mr. Grandours to guard a tower, filled with various treasures, including the magic barleycorns. He helped John Barleycorn and Arrow retrieve the jar and joined Fabletown. He eventually returned to his human form and lives on the 13th floor.

Jack London refers to steam beer in his "alcoholic memoir", John Barleycorn, in a passage explaining how he started drinking in late-1880s San Francisco: :The first day I worked in the bowling alley, the barkeeper, according to custom, called us boys up to have a drink after we had been setting up pins for several hours. The others asked for beer. I said I'd take ginger ale. The boys snickered, and I noticed the barkeeper favoured me with a strange, searching scrutiny.

San Pablo Bay is the setting of alternative rock band Primus's four- part song series "Fisherman's Chronicles," and is also referenced in "The Toys Go Winding Down" and "Harold of the Rocks." It is also mentioned in The Minus 5 song "John Barleycorn Must Live." In Susan Choi's book, American Woman, which mirrors the Patty Hearst scandal of the 1970s, the Bay's waters are said to welcome main characters Jenny and Pauline home after they've traversed from the East coast.

In 1970, Traffic toured in support of their comeback album John Barleycorn Must Die, with a quartet line-up of Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, Jim Capaldi, and Ric Grech. In November, the group played a series of concerts at the Fillmore East, and recordings from these concerts were compiled into a live album consisting of "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring", "Glad", "Pearly Queen", "40,000 Headmen", "Dear Mr. Fantasy", and "Can't Find My Way Home".McDermott, John (2002). "Traffic: Welcome to the Canteen".

While London only made it through his first year of college, Heinold's pub introduced him to the sailors and adventurers that would influence his writing. Many of London's evenings were spent at Heinold's pub, gathering ideas for his later works. In his autobiographical novel, John Barleycorn, London mentioned the pub's likeness seventeen times. The pub was the place where London met Alexander McLean, a captain known for his cruelty at sea, on whom the protagonist in London's novel The Sea-Wolf, Wolf Larsen, is based.

Bosworth also directed the follow-up, The Valley of the Moon, in which had a supporting actor role. He also appeared as an actor in John Barleycorn, which he co-directed with J. Charles Haydon. He produced, directed, wrote, and acted in Martin Eden and An Odyssey of the North, playing the lead in the latter, which was released by Paramount. He finished up the series by producing, directing, and playing the lead in the two-part "Burning Daylight" series, The Adventures of Burning Daylight.

Brian Hartung from Carlton United Breweries approached Wayne Gale in 1984 and asked if he could start music at The Corner Hotel. At that time Gale was running venues at The John Barleycorn Hotel in Collingwood, The Tiger Lounge (Royal Oak in Richmond) and The Prospect Hill Hotel in Kew. The first bands to play the venue were The Adventure and Big Music Works on Friday 28 February 1983 with Big Pig following on the Saturday night. At first live music was played only on Friday and Saturday nights.

As described in a film magazine, Billy Bates (Ray) believes that he has inherited the desire for strong drink from his father and, in order to live apart from his friends unmolested, he retires to a cheap saloon where each day finds him sinking lower. Poppy Drayton (Breamer) loves Billy and decides to save him from himself. She hatches a plan that makes Billy believe that she has been kidnapped, and Billy finds that he can do without John Barleycorn when the safety of the woman he loves is at stake.

New poems included Death and Doctor Hornbrook, The Brigs of Ayr, The Holy Fair, John Barleycorn, Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly Righteous and significantly To a Haggis (often given elsewhere as Address to a Haggis). Of the seven new songs Green grow the Rashes. A Fragment is an example of Burns's gift for re-working traditional folk-verse. The sequence of the contents is also slightly different with the dedication followed by the contents, then the subscribers list followed by the poems and songs and finally the glossary.

"Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)" is a 1967 song by The Hombres and the title track of their album of the same name. It is, according to AllMusic journalist Stewart Mason, a "deadpan southern-fried parody" of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues". The song's spoken intro – "A preachment, dear friends, you are about to receive on John Barleycorn, nicotine and the temptations of Eve" – dates to the 1947 novelty recording "Cigareetes, Whuskey and Wild, Wild Women" by Red Ingle and His Natural Seven, and is followed by a raspberry.

In addition most of the poems present in the 1786 Kilmarnock Edition are reprinted such as "Halloween", "The Twa Dogs", "The Cotter's Saturday Night", "To a Mouse", etc. New poems included Death and Doctor Hornbook, The Brigs of Ayr, The Holy Fair, John Barleycorn, Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly Righteous and significantly To a Haggis (often given elsewhere as Address to a Haggis). Of the seven new songs Green grow the Rashes. A Fragment is an example of Burns's gift for re-working traditional folk-verse.

The term "oyster pirate" appeared in several literary works by Jack London. London usually used the term without explanation ("I wanted to be where the winds of adventure blew. And the winds of adventure blew the oyster pirate sloops up and down San Francisco Bay").John Barleycorn, Chapter VII Writers about London also use the term without explanation ("he was a sailor, seal-hunter, tramp, fish warden, oyster pirate, cannery worker, jailbird, boxer, and gold digger"John J. Ross, Shakespeare's Tremor and Orwell's Cough: The Medical Lives of Famous Writers, Macmillan, 2011, p.

In 2000 he was invited to become the fourth member of Waterson–Carthy, a position he held until May 2007. He has his own band, Van Eyken, consisting of Nancy Kerr on fiddle, Olly Knight (Lal Waterson's son) on electric guitar, Colin Fletcher on double bass, and Pete Flood on percussion. Their version of the traditional English song "John Barleycorn" - "Barleycorn" - won the award for Best Traditional Track at the 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He was a member of the now defunct group Dr Faustus, together with Robert Harbron, Benji Kirkpatrick, and Paul Sartin.

The brewery was established 1989 by brewmaster Bob Smith... Its Steelhead Extra Pale Ale was listed by the Oakland Tribune as one of ten "quintessential Northern California beers".. Other beers produced by Mad River have included Steelhead Stout, Serious Madness Black Ale,. Double Dread Imperial Red, and John Barleycorn Barleywine.. The brewery has won local, national and international awards including in the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival. At the 2010 Great American Beer Festival they won best brewery in the nation in their class, the Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year.

Pirates raided the oyster beds at night and sold their take in the Oakland markets in the morning. The public disliked the Southern Pacific and the oyster growers, and liked cheap oysters. As a result, the oyster pirates had considerable public sympathy and police were reluctant to take action against them. Jack London described oyster piracy in his autobiographical "alcoholic memoirs", John Barleycorn, in the form of romanticized juvenile fiction in The Cruise of the Dazzler, and from the opposing point of view of the California Fish Patrol in "A Raid on the Oyster Pirates," from Tales of the Fish Patrol.

John Barleycorn Must Die is the fourth studio album by English rock band Traffic, released in 1970 as Island ILPS 9116 in the United Kingdom, United Artists UAS 5504 in the United States, and as Polydor 2334 013 in Canada. It marked the band's comeback after a brief disbandment, and peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200, making it their highest charting album in the US, and has been certified a gold record by the RIAA. In addition, the single "Empty Pages" spent eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 74.[ "Empty Pages" Chart History], Billboard.com.

On its release, Billboard described the song as a "traditionally styled rock number". Cash Box considered the song a "driving pop/rock" track that "should continue" the band's success in the Top 40 and on AOR radio. Music & Media wrote: "Captivating and epic piece of rock with folk overtones through an accordion and a Big Country type of lick." In a review of One Way Home, David Fricke of Rolling Stone described the song as a "powerful pop KO of TV pulpit pounders", with its "core riff" being "a metallic jig figure – sort of Boston meets "John Barleycorn" – fattened up with iron-fist guitar chords and Close Encounters synth effects".

The Scarlet Plague was reprinted in the February 1949 issue of Famous Fantastic Mysteries The Scarlet Plague was written in 1910 but not serialized until the May–June 1912 issue of London Magazine. It was published as a book in 1915 by Macmillan. London published The Scarlet Plague in book form at a point in his career that biographers and critics have called a "professional decline", from September 1912 to May 1916. In this period, he stopped writing short works and shifted to longer works including The Abysmal Brute (1913), John Barleycorn (1913), The Mutiny of the Elsinore (1914), The Star Rover (1915), among others.

This created the germ of his series of solo CDs featuring Noyes, his sister, Kate Lissauer, an English banjo/fiddler of the Appalachian style, and others. His first solo CD, Woody Lissauer (2004) contained the radio single "Roses" and a noted version of the old English ballad, "John Barleycorn". His second solo CD, War and the World (2006), is known for the single "Shred", "Leaf", and an unusual remake of Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love". His third solo CD, Adventures and Misadventures in Loveland, contains the song "Hard Times" about the recent global economic crisis, "Bent, but not broken", as well as a cover of the Leonard Cohen song "Suzanne".

A field of barley in England Beowa, Beaw, Bēow , Beo or Bedwig is a figure in Anglo-Saxon paganism associated with barley and agriculture. The figure is attested in the Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies as they were extended in the age of Alfred, where Beowa is inserted as the son of Scyld and the grandson of Sceafa, in lineages carried back to Adam.Kathleen Herbert, Looking for the Lost Gods of England, 1994:15, noted by John Grigsby, Beowulf & Grendel2005:64. Connections have been proposed between the figure of Beowa and the hero Beowulf of the poem of the same name and English folk song figure John Barleycorn.

Nevertheless he also used other names such as "Civilian", "Paterfamilias", "West Londoner", "Belgravian Mother", "Mother of Six" and "John Barleycorn".National Portrait Gallery He was particularly active on behalf of sufferers from the Great Famine in 1847, demanding more decisive action and volunteering as an agent of the British Relief Association. His The real bearings of the West India question (1847) advocated support for West Indian plantation owners who, he argued, could not compete against slave- owning countries which bore no wage costs. He contributed regularly to the Peelite newspaper The Morning Chronicle and also to The Times, the Pall Mall Gazette and the Cornhill Magazine (under Thackeray's editorship).

In their early days, they often took melodies directly from American and British folk songs like "Song to Woody" "Yellow Bird" "John Barleycorn Must Die" and "A Hard Rain's a Gonna Fall" and adapted them with political lyrics in Thai. Their later music sometimes had a noticeable country music influence in songs like "Num Phanejawn" and "Fon Thewa," although as a whole, the influence of Western folk diminished as their career went on. When the band went electric, it expanded its range of sound to include influences of rock, reggae, folk music from other Asian countries, and a wider range of Thai musical styles.

In his retirement, he acted as a ringside attendant for important fights. These included acting as a second to John Barleycorn in 1839 as well as acting as an attendant in the English championship fight between Ben Caunt and Bendigo, the boxer William Thompson, in Suffolk in September, 1845, a long brutal bout where Barney was forced to hold back angry spectators in several rounds. He later worked as a fishmonger,"Grand Boxing Match", The Northern Liberator, pg. 3, 23 February 1839 and may have worked for a period as a Constable in London, once apprehending two men who were suspected of robbing houses in his neighborhood of Houndsditch.

Far From Home, released in 1994, is the eighth and final studio album by the rock band Traffic. It was recorded at a large house called Woodstock, outside Kilcoole to the south of Dublin, and mixed at the Chateau Miraval in Correns, southern France. The project began as a revival of the writing collaboration between Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi, but soon blossomed into the first Traffic project since 1974. The album reached number 29 in the UK Albums Chart, where it remained for four weeks, making it by far Traffic's most commercially successful album in their home country since John Barleycorn Must Die.

Inviting Wood and Capaldi to join him, Winwood's erstwhile solo album became the reunion of Traffic (minus Dave Mason), and a re-launch of the band's career.John Barleycorn Must Die, 1999 reissue Island Records IMCD 266 546499-2, liner notes p. 3. Mad Shadows would go on to be the title of Mott the Hoople's second album, also produced by Guy Stevens. As did most of their albums, it featured influences from jazz and blues, but the version of the traditional English folk tune "John Barleycorn" also showed the musicians attending to the same strains of modern interpretations of traditional folk music as contemporary British bands Pentangle and Fairport Convention.

Retrospective reviews of the album have been mixed. AllMusic criticised the vocal sections as "excuses for Winwood to exercise his expressive voice as punctuation to the extended instrumental sections", but made note of how the album took the band's jazz/rock leanings beyond mere jamming.[ AllMusic: Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die (1970) album review by William Ruhlmann] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau said the departure of Mason hurt Traffic's songwriting on the album, leaving the band to depend on Winwood's "feckless improvised rock, or is it folksong-based jazz?" It was voted number 369 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd Edition (2000).

These sessions were so successful that the three of them reformed Traffic to release the album John Barleycorn Must Die. They then toured the UK and the US with an expanded line-up, which would go on to produce the hit albums Welcome to the Canteen and The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. The title track of the latter, a cynical treatise on the music industry, would prove to be one of Capaldi's most famous lyrics. In addition, "Rock and Roll Stew (part 1)", a rare instance of a Traffic song with Capaldi on lead vocal, was a minor hit in the USA.

One of the songs, "Three Crowns" (based on the short story "A Warning to the Curious"), also appeared on the compilation album John Barleycorn Reborn (2007). In February 2012, the UK psychedelic band The Future Kings of England released their 4th album, Who Is This Who Is Coming, based on James's "Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad". An instrumental work, it evokes the story from beginning to end, with the tracks segueing into one another to form a continuous piece of music. On 23 February 2012 the Royal Mail released a stamp featuring James as part its "Britons of Distinction" series.

After the death of his father, Laurie, 42-year-old Stephen is set to take over the family business, the John Barleycorn pub, in Stroud, Gloucestershire. His plans are interrupted when Andrew, a former foster child briefly raised by Stephen's parents, returns to his life eager to renew his relationship with the family. While Andrew quickly charms the rest of Stephen's family – including his mother Ellen, sister Cass, and uncle Geoff – Stephen resents Andrew and views him as "a glib, dangerous sociopath who's about to steal his family, his business and his life". Andrew fondly remembers the time he spent living with the family as happy, whereas Stephen remembers the same time as miserable.

A sacred king, according to the systematic interpretation of mythology developed by Frazer in The Golden Bough (published 1890), was a king who represented a solar deity in a periodically re-enacted fertility rite. Frazer seized upon the notion of a substitute king and made him the keystone of his theory of a universal, pan-European, and indeed worldwide fertility myth, in which a consort for the Goddess was annually replaced. According to Frazer, the sacred king represented the spirit of vegetation, a divine John Barleycorn. He came into being in the spring, reigned during the summer, and ritually died at harvest time, only to be reborn at the winter solstice to wax and rule again.

His first solo album – Pathways and Dawns – which was largely arranged, recorded and produced by Brendan Perry at DCD's studio in Ireland,Buckley, Peter (2003) The Rough Guide to Rock, Rough Guides, , p. 275 was released on the Projekt label in 1999 and was dubbed the album the Beatles might have made had the group signed with 4AD instead of Capitol by Alternative Press. His second solo album, Enter The Mysterium, was released in 2005 on City Canyons Records (licensed by Music and Words in Europe). The song "The Scryer and the Shewstone" from the album was featured on John Barleycorn Reborn, a highly acclaimed album of dark British folk music released on Cold Spring Records in 2007.

Wynder K. Frog), the short-lived Mason, Capaldi, Wood and Frog (later shortened to Wooden Frog), which played a few live dates and recorded some BBC sessions, but broke up before releasing any formal recordings. After the break-up of Blind Faith in 1969, Winwood began working on a solo recording, bringing in Wood and Capaldi to contribute, and the project eventually turned into a new Traffic album, John Barleycorn Must Die, their most successful album yet. Traffic went on to expand its lineup late in 1970, adding Winwood's former Blind Faith bandmate Ric Grech on bass. The group further expanded in 1971 with drummer Jim Gordon of Derek and the Dominos and Ghanaian percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah.

Planes flying in an airshow in Duxford The village currently has two remaining pubs – The John Barleycorn and The Plough. Other former pubs include The Wheatsheaf (which re-opened in 2018 as Graystones deli/cafe), the Three Horseshoes, first recorded in 1786, the King's Head which opened in the mid-19th century and the Flower Pot, located at the end of the old airfield runway on what is now Hunts Road. The latter was a popular haunt for pilots during the war The village holds an annual Advent Market at St John's Church to raise funds which are then available for local projects which enhance the quality of life for residents. There is also an annual Soap Box Derby in September.

The Owl Service originally began as a studio-based solo project for Steven Collins in June 2006. While working on the first Owl Service release (the Wake the Vaulted Echo EP from 2006) he met Dom Cooper of The Straw Bear Band who was drafted in to provide lead vocals on the song The Two Magicians. Dom remained involved with The Owl Service until March 2012 singing, writing songs, and co-ordinating the band's graphic design. The Wake the Vaulted Echo EP was warmly received in psych-folk circles and this led to Collins being asked to record a track for the 2007 compilation album John Barleycorn Reborn on the Cold Spring label (for which he also contributed sleeve notes).

John Barleycorn, and his > association with this noted gentleman led to frequent and divers bouts with > one Ben Booze who invariably gave Mac the worst of it and came near causing > his downfall. It was not until he quit these gentlemen entirely that the > true worth of the man permanently asserted itself and his flight into fame > was continued." Another account, published in Sports Illustrated 1984, stated that McGuire's Brooklyn teammates gave him the nickname in 1900 because he was "so straight- arrow" and had never been fined or ejected from a game. Multiple accounts support the widely publicized claim that he was never fined or ejected from a game and describe McGuire as "placid, easy-going, hard-working and thoroughly conscientious.

The cover was designed by Mike Sida, who had already provided the cover for Spooky Two, and went on to produce several further classic Island album covers including Free's Fire and Water and Traffic's John Barleycorn Must Die. The front cover's simple motif of names of featured bands spelt out in alphabet sweets (in a combination of blue/biscuit colours alone) is subverted on the rear cover, where most of the letters have been dispersed and replaced by what seem to be brightly coloured tablets. The presence of (at least parts of) medicine capsules might make a suspicious observer suspect a reference to drugs. The rear cover also features the track listing and thumbnail images of eight of the featured albums (1.1-4, 2.1, 2.3-4 & 2.6).

A stream of consciousness conceptual song cycle, the album is made up of improvised melodies and acoustic guitar backings augmented by flutes, melody harp, harmonica and hand percussion. Lyrically the album celebrates life and nature through the changing seasons whilst questioning religious doctrines and humankind's ecological footprint."The Story Arcane Rising Review", Shindig, Vol 2 (May - June 2008):59 Also in 2007, The Story's sinister track "The Wicker Man" featured on the dark folk compilation album John Barleycorn Reborn on Cold Spring Records. The band's acclaimed"Album Review", Uncut, (November 2011) third full-length album Joy Ride on Memory Lane was released in 2011 on Rainbow Quartz Records under the band name The Story UK. This confident, hook- laden psychedelic album has a rockier sound than previous releases whilst continuing to incorporate the duo's warm harmonies and highly melodic aesthetic.

J. R. R. Tolkien, one of the proponents of reading "Beow" here, suggested that the use of "Beowulf" as Scyld Schefing's son was a scribal error for the original "Beow", noting that the two scribes who produced the Beowulf manuscript were "both extremely ignorant of and careless with proper names", and called the occurrence of "Beowulf" in this place in the manuscript "one of the oddest facts in Old English literature" and "one of the reddest and highest red herrings that were ever dragged across a literary trail". Kathleen Herbert draws a link between Beowa and the figure of John Barleycorn of traditional English folksong. Herbert says that Beowa and Barleycorn are one and the same, noting that the folksong details the suffering, death, and resurrection of Barleycorn, yet also celebrates the "reviving effects of drinking his blood."Herbert (2007:16).