Three old gals from Sutter Creek
Drinkin’ buddies, so they say
Hung out in the 50 Grand
Every night and half the day
Minnie, Hope and Big Justine
They were all once young and gay
Now Minnie’s dead, Justine’s in jail
And Hope just pours more Cabernet.

CHORUS:
And the Gold Country’s turning to wine
The California Gold Rush is growin’ on the vine
But the old prospectors’ daughters, they don’t seem to mind
They’re just siftin’ dreams in burgundy off Highway 49.

Minnie, Hope and Big Justine
Sometimes I can hear them still
Arguing ‘til early dawn
Over who should pay the bill
Later, in the trailer park
No one saw ‘cause it was dark
Hope had long since gone back home
Jus’ and Minnie drank alone.

CHORUS

Justine packed a wicked punch
For a gal of 64
Who knows what went through her mind
When she walked out of Minnie’s door
Three days later neighbors found
Minnie still upon the floor
Just alive enough to say
“Justine hit me.” Nothing more.

CHORUS

Minnie, Hope and Big Justine
They were all once young and gay
Now Minnie’s dead, Justine’s in jail
And Hope just pours more Cabernet.

FINAL CHORUS
And the Gold Country’s turning to wine
The California Gold Rush is growin’ on the vine
But life don’t always pan out the way you had in mind
When you sift your dreams in burgundy off Highway 49.

No, life don’t always pan out the way you had in mind
When you sift your dreams in burgundy off Highway 49.