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gilbert sullivan - when i was a lad i served a term lyrics

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sir joseph.
when i was a lad i served a term
as office boy to an attorney’s firm.
i cleaned the windows and i swept the floor,
and i polished up the handle of the big front door.

chorus.
he polished up the handle of the big front door.

sir joseph.
i polished up that handle so carefullee
that now i am the ruler of the queen’s navee!

chorus.
he polished up that handle so carefullee,
that now he is the ruler of the queen’s navee!

henry lytton as sir joseph 1920
sir joseph.
as office boy i made such a mark
that they gave me the post of a junior clerk.
i served the writs with a smile so bland,
and i copied all the letters in a big round hand.
chorus.
he copied all the letters in a big round hand.

sir joseph.
i copied all the letters in a hand so free,
that now i am the ruler of the queen’s navee!

chorus.
he copied all the letters in a hand so free,
that now he is the ruler of the queen’s navee!

sir joseph.
in serving writs i made such a name
that an articled clerk i soon became;
i wore clean collars and a brand-new suit
for the p-ss examination at the inst-tute.

chorus.
for the p-ss examination at the inst-tute.

sir joseph.
that p-ss examination did so well for me,
that now i am the ruler of the queen’s navee!

chorus.
that p-ss examination did so well for he,
that now he is the ruler of the queen’s navee!

sir joseph.
of legal knowledge i acquired such a grip
that they took me into the partnership.
and that junior partnership, i ween,
was the only ship that i ever had seen.

chorus.
was the only ship that he ever had seen.

sir joseph.
but that kind of ship so suited me,
that now i am the ruler of the queen’s navee!

chorus.
but that kind of ship so suited he,
that now he is the ruler of the queen’s navee!

sir joseph.
i grew so rich that i was sent
by a pocket borough into parliament.
i always voted at my party’s call,
and i never thought of thinking for myself at all.

chorus.
he never thought of thinking for himself at all.

sir joseph.
i thought so little, they rewarded me
by making me the ruler of the queen’s navee!

chorus.
he thought so little, they rewarded he
by making him the ruler of the queen’s navee!

sir joseph.
now landsmen all, whoever you may be,
if you want to rise to the top of the tree,
if your soul isn’t fettered to an office stool,
be careful to be guided by this golden rule.

chorus.
be careful to be guided by this golden rule.

sir joseph.
stick close to your desks and never go to sea,
and you all may be rulers of the queen’s navee!

chorus.
stick close to your desks and never go to sea,
and you all may be rulers of the queen’s navee!

dialogue

sir joseph.
you’ve a remarkably fine crew, captain corcoran.

captain corcoran.
it is a fine crew, sir joseph.

sir joseph. (examining a very small midshipman)
a british sailor is a splendid fellow, captain
corcoran.

captain corcoran.
a splendid fellow indeed, sir joseph.

sir joseph.
i hope you treat your crew kindly, captain corcoran.

captain corcoran.
indeed i hope so, sir joseph.

sir joseph.
never forget that they are the bulwarks of england’s
greatness,
captain corcoran.

captain corcoran.
so i have always considered them, sir joseph.

sir joseph.
no bullying, i trust ‒ no strong language of any
kind, eh?

captain corcoran.
oh, never, sir joseph.

sir joseph. what, never?

captain corcoran.
hardly ever, sir joseph. they are an excellent crew,
and do
their work thoroughly without it.

sir joseph.
don’t patronise them, sir ‒ pray, don’t patronise
them.

captain corcoran.
certainly not, sir joseph.

sir joseph.
that you are their captain is an accident of birth. i
cannot permit
these n-ble fellows to be patronised because an
accident of birth
has placed you above them and them below you.

captain corcoran.
i am the last person to insult a british sailor, sir
joseph.

sir joseph.
you are the last person who did, captain corcoran.
desire
that splendid seaman to step forward.

(d-ck comes forward)

no, no, the other splendid seaman.

captain corcoran.
ralph rackstraw, three paces to the front ‒ march!

sir joseph. (sternly)
if what?

captain corcoran.
i beg your pardon — i don’t think i understand you.

sir joseph.
if you please.

captain corcoran.
oh, yes, of course. if you please. (ralph steps
forward.)

sir joseph.
you’re a remarkably fine fellow.

ralph.
yes, your honour.

sir joseph.
and a first-rate seaman, i’ll be bound.

ralph.
there’s not a smarter topman in the navy, your honour,
though i say it who shouldn’t.

sir joseph.
not at all. proper self-respect, nothing more. can you
dance
a h-rnpipe?

ralph.
no, your honour.

sir joseph.
that’s a pity: all sailors should dance h-rnpipes. i
will teach
you one this evening, after dinner. now tell me ‒
don’t be
afraid ‒ how does your captain treat you, eh?

ralph.
a better captain don’t walk the deck, your honour.

all.
aye; aye!

sir joseph.
good. i like to hear you speak well of your commanding
officer;
i daresay he don’t deserve it, but still it does you
credit. can you sing?

ralph.
i can hum a little, your honour.

sir joseph.
then hum this at your leisure. (giving him ms. music.)
it is a
song that i have composed for the use of the royal
navy. it is
designed to encourage independence of thought and
action in the
ower branches of the service, and to teach the
principle that a
british sailor is any man’s equal, excepting mine. now,
captain
corcoran, a word with you in your cabin, on a tender
and
sentimental subject.

captain corcoran.
aye, aye, sir joseph. (crossing) boatswain, in
commemoration
of this joyous occasion, see that extra grog is served
out to the
ship’s company at seven bells.

boatswain.
beg pardon. if what, your honour?

captain corcoran.
if what? i don’t think i understand you.

boatswain.
if you please, your honour.

captain corcoran.
what!

sir joseph.
the gentleman is quite right. if you please.

captain corcoran. (stamping his foot impatiently)
if you please!

(exit.)



- gilbert sullivan lyrics

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