I love the brazenness of this song and I love that it's about four women having a great time with absolutely no regard for social convention.
I learned this, as so many people did, from Tim Hart and Maddie Priors' album, 'Summer Solstice'. It was gifted to us by our friend and fellow folk club-goer, Peter Tiplady who couldn't believe we hadn't heard it; so thank you Peter for the many happy hours of listening!
When so many songs about women focus on their heartbreak or oppression it's great to find one that celebrates "Bouncing Sally" and her jolly sisters, living it up with a week-long binge!
lyrics
There were three drunken maidens
Came from the Isle of Wight,
They drunk from Monday morning
Nor stopped till Saturday night.
When Saturday night did come, me boys,
They wouldn't then go out.
These three drunken maidens,
They pushed the jug about.
Then in comes bouncing Sally,
Her cheeks as red as blooms.
Move up me jolly sisters,
And give young Sally some room.
For I will be your equal
Before the night is out.
These four drunken maidens,
They pushed the jug about.
There's woodcock and pheasant,
There's partridge and hare.
There's all sorts of dainties,
No scarcity was there.
There's forty quarts of beer, me boys,
They fairly drunk them out.
These four drunken maidens,
They pushed the jug about.
But up comes the landlord,
He's asking for his pay.
It's a forty pound bill, me boys
These girls have got to pay.
That's ten pounds apiece, me boys,
But still they wouldn't go out.
These four drunken maidens,
They pushed the jug about.
Oh where are your feathered hats,
Your mantles rich and fine?
They've all been swallowed up,
In tankards of good wine.
And where are your maidenheads,
You maidens frisk and gay?
We left them in the alehouse,
We drank them clean away
Rosie is a folk singer/songwriter from Midhurst, West Sussex. Having grown up surrounded by traditional music, her voice
possesses a naturalness and maturity, bringing "a ruby-richness to lyrics new and old". (Folk Radio UK)
Rosie is currently touring with her trio, The Wilderness Yet....more
supported by 14 fans who also own “Three Drunken Maidens”
Rosie's voice is so pure and sweet, yet so rich and full of character. And when the three of them sing together (as on "Old Brock"), it's really magical. Their special music is certainly What Holds The World Together for me. John Fisher
Adapting their calculated standards into a raw, live setting, the radical UK folk duo rework six highlights from their spellbindincatalogue. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 7, 2022