Simple Joys of Maidenhood Lyrics
Simple Joys of Maidenhood
GUENEVERE:St. Genevieve, St. Genevieve,
It's Guenevere!
Remember me?
St. Genevieve, St. Genevieve,
I'm over here
Beneath this tree.
You know how faithful and devout I am,
You must admit I've always been a lamb,
But Genevieve, St. Genevieve--
I won't obey you anymore.
You've gone a bit too far!
I won't be bid and bargained for
Like beads at a bazaar.
St. Genevieve, I've run away,
Eluded them and fled,
And from now on, I intend to pray
To someone else instead!
Oh Genevieve, St. Genevieve,
Where were you when my youth was sold?
Dear Genevieve, sweet Genevieve,
Shan't I be young before I'm old?
Where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
Where are all those adoring, daring boys?
Where's the youth pining so for me
He leaps to death in woe for me?
Oh, where are a maiden's simple joys?
Shan't I have the normal life a maiden should?
Shall I never be rescued in the wood?
Shall two knights never tilt for me
And let their blood be spilt for me?
Oh, where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
Shall I not be on a pedestal,
Worshipped and competed for?
Not be carried off, or better still,
Cause a little war?
Where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
Are those dear gentle pleasures gone for good?
Shall a feud not begin for me?
Shall kith not kill their kin for me?
Oh, where are the trivial joys,
Harmless convivial joys,
Where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
Song Overview
Song Credits
- Producer: Goddard Lieberson
- Writers: Frederick Loewe & Alan Jay Lerner
- Vocals: Julie Andrews
- Recorded At: CBS 30th Street Studio
- Album: Camelot (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
- Release Date: 1960-12-12
- Genre: Broadway, Musicals
Song Meaning and Annotations
“The Simple Joys of Maidenhood” is Broadway satire wrapped in a velvet ribbon of yearning. Performed by Julie Andrews as Queen Guenevere in Camelot, this number isn’t merely a whimsical musing — it’s a cheeky, almost rebellious cry from a woman who feels robbed of romantic escapades before being boxed into queenhood.
The opening invocation of Saint Genevieve has the charm of a diary entry scrawled in frustration. Guenevere pleads with her patron saint, wondering aloud why she’s been fast-tracked from girlhood to courtly obligation without a pitstop in youthful folly:
Where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
That line sets the tone: wistful, sharp, and laced with irony. Guenevere doesn’t want a boring happily-ever-after just yet — she wants drama, danger, and boys bleeding poetically in her name. It’s a melodic fantasy of chaos, a noblewoman’s longing for the messy freedoms her title now denies her.
Her desires aren’t demure:
Shall I never be rescued in the wood?
Shall two knights never tilt for me?
This isn’t Disney — it’s a self-aware satire of those very tropes, from the mouth of a woman who knows the roles and wants to play them on her terms before settling into queenly composure.
Similar Songs
- "I Enjoy Being a Girl" from Flower Drum Song — Another tongue-in-cheek anthem of womanhood, full of double meanings and dressed-up expectations, exploring femininity through a winking lens.
- "Much More" from The Fantasticks — A young woman yearns for adventure beyond the walls of tradition, echoing Guenevere’s thirst for excitement and emotional disarray.
- "How Lovely to Be a Woman" from Bye Bye Birdie — It shares that same glittering surface of girlish joy with undercurrents of sarcasm and social commentary on femininity and freedom.
Questions and Answers
- What does Guenevere mean by “simple joys”?
- She longs for the romantic drama and attention typically afforded to young maidens — heroic rescues, poetic declarations, even theatrical feuds over her affection. It’s about fantasy, not simplicity.
- Is this song sincere or sarcastic?
- Both. It’s a layered performance — playful on the surface but shaded with genuine frustration. Guenevere’s craving for youthful indulgence is real, even if her examples are exaggerated.
- Why is the song important in Camelot?
- It introduces Guenevere’s personality — witty, romantic, impatient with propriety — and sets the emotional tone for her future choices and conflicts, especially in love and loyalty.
- What does this song reveal about gender roles?
- It highlights the performative nature of femininity and maidenhood, revealing how societal expectations stifle real desire. Guenevere critiques the mold she’s forced into while still craving its excitement.
- How does Julie Andrews elevate the material?
- With pitch-perfect poise and playfulness. Andrews delivers every line with twinkling clarity and subtle tension, making Guenevere’s internal tug-of-war sound like a musical waltz of wit and woe.
Fan and Media Reactions
"Julie Andrews makes Guenevere sound like the most charmingly dissatisfied woman in Britain."– @BroadwayBallads
"This song walks the line between fairytale and feminist manifesto. Brilliant."– @MusicalMyths
"The idea of missing out on a good scandal before marriage is hilariously relatable."– @GuenevereGoals
"Only Julie Andrews could whine about wanting a war and still sound like royalty."– @KnightLyricist
"It’s the ultimate princess pout — set to a deliciously dramatic melody."– @StageFlirt