Lyrics

Three Jolly Coachmen Sailors

Three jolly sailors sat in an English tavern,
Three jolly sailors sat in an English tavern,
And they decided,
And they decided,
And they decided: they would have another!

Chorus:
Landlord fill the flowing bowl until it doth run over,
Landlord fill the flowing bowl until it doth run over
For tonight we’ll merr-i be,
for tonight we’ll merr-i be,
for tonight we’ll merr-i be: tomorrow we’ll be sober.

Here’s to the man who drinks water pure and goes to bed quite sober,
Here’s to the man who drinks water pure and goes to bed quite sober,
He falls as the leaves do fall,
He falls as the leaves do fall,
He falls as the leaves do fall: he’ll die before October. (Chorus)

Here’s to the man who drinks good ale and goes to bed quite mellow,
Here’s to the man who drinks good ale and goes to bed quite mellow,
He lives as he ought to live,
He lives as he ought to live,
He lives as he ought to live: he’ll die a jolly fellow. (Chorus)

Here’s to the maid who steals a kiss, and runs to tell her mother,
Here’s to the maid who steals a kiss, and runs to tell her mother,
She’s a little foolish foolish lass,
She’s a little foolish foolish lass,
She’s a little foolish foolish lass: for she’ll not get another. (Chorus)

Here’s to the maid who steals a kiss, and stays to have another,
Here’s to the maid who steals a kiss, and stays to have another,
She’s a boon to all mankind,
She’s a boon to all mankind,
She’s a boon to all mankind: for she’ll soon be a mother. (Chorus)

Song Notes

“This traditional English folk song regained traction in 1950’s America, first by the Weavers in 1953 and then by the Kingston Trio in 1958. This was one of the drinking songs that I was taught as a ‘Singing Guard’ for the 1985 scenario at King Richard’s Faire outside of Chicago. These lyrics were provided by Diane Hayes, that year’s music director.” – Dean Calin