3 Jolly Coachmen

“3 Jolly Coachmen” -Originally it was known as “The Jolly Fellow”, or also as “Come, Landlord, Fill the Flowing Bowl” and some variants, and is dated by scholars to the mid-17th century; it is a ditty inspired by the earlier song, Drink Today,  which appears in the c. 1617/1639 play “Rollo Duke of Normandy, or The Bloody Brother” by John Fletcher. There are some 18th century references to the song, some of which claim it as a leftover from the previous century, and there are references to it being a particular favourite of British soldiers during the American Revolution; it enjoyed a sudden revival in broadside ballads throughout the 19th century, in college song books, and in 20th century historical reenactments and renaissance fairs that dot the landscape in season