Three Drunken Huntsmen

Written by: [Traditional]
Language: English
Comments: There are several families of related songs originating from the British Isles involving three men who went hunting (or sporting). Mainly Norfolk has one group it has labeled "Three Jolly Huntsmen / Three Jolly Sportsmen" [Roud 796, Ballad Index R076] involving three men who went out on a fox hunt. They also have a group labeled "Three Drunken Huntsmen / Three Men Went A-Hunting / Six Jovial Welshmen" [Roud 283, Ballad Index R077] that usually involve three men from different countries unsuccessfully hunting who end up drinking and naming the things they think they have espied (e.g., a porcupine, barn, frog, moon). However, many performances have become intertwined. For example, Fresno State contradicts Mainly Norfolk and says the Ballad index includes the American variant "Three Men Went A-Hunting" songs with the Three Jolly Huntsmen (not Three Drunken Huntsmen), as it doesn't deal with drinking but it does deal with men from three different countries naming the things they have seen. Cyril Tawney's "The Three Huntsmen" also doesn't involve getting drunk and the like but Mainly Norfolk has it classified there. SHS is just going to combine the entire grouping of songs at present until more definitive precision can be made.

There is also another group of traditionals involving Three Jolly Rogues
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Originals

Traditional