This song was widely popular in the mid-eighteenth century. Originating in the South of England it soon spread northwards, spreading not only by word of mouth but as part of a popular songbook called Charming Phylis’ Garland.
The song enjoyed currency during the hey-day of smuggling and the Isle of Wight was an important staging post for contraband goods being smuggled into England from the continent. The island was awash with wines and spirits which were freely (and cheaply) available in its pubs and inns so a week long bash like the one in this song wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility.
The song also lays emphasis on the food available. ‘There’s woodcock and pheasant, partridge and hare’. If such dishes were available for sale it could only have been because the inn was dealing on the Black Market since such items were subject to the Game Laws which forbad the sale of game by anyone, including even the landowners of the estates where the game had been killed.
Our four feisty young women were waving two fingers at the Customs and Excise and also two fingers at the Game Laws and since most people held these things in contempt one can only assume that a song such as this would have received three rousing cheers. It wouldn’t appear to our 21st century ears to be a subversive ditty but it certainly was back in the 17th century.