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No. 9 - Song - Pharaoh & Chorus - "Once Egypt was a dreary land."

MIDI File

Pharaoh:  Once Egypt was a dreary land, ruled by a dreary King,
An operatic Captain I, who made the welkin ring!
So to a desert region
With a most unruly legion
I was sent to quell some Arabs, and their wicked necks to wring.
'Twas just a forceful argument to teach me not to sing!
Men: 'Twas just a forceful argument to teach him not to sing!
   
Pharaoh:  But the evening of the battle, said my gallant men to me,
"Tomorrow, oh, our Captain, we shall dead as mutton be!
For the foemen far out-weigh us,
And most certainly will slay us,
And what's the good of deadness to the likes of such as we?"
'Twas such a forceful argument I couldn't but agree.
Men: 'Twas such a forceful argument he couldn't but agree.
   
Pharaoh: So one and all drew me aside, and murmur'd soft and low,
"We're going back to Egypt, and we will not strike a blow!
It's a very simple thing
To remove the present King;
For though he may not abdicate, I think we'd make him go."
'Twas such a forceful argument I merely said "What ho!"
Men: 'Twas such a forceful argument he merely said
All: "What ho!"
   
Pharaoh: They found my predecessor in the counting-house alone,
And as he wouldn't abdicate they knifed him to the bone!
And the populace cried "Viva!"
When they heard he'd died of fever.
Then they said to me, "Oh, Captain, what's the matter with the throne?"
Of course I saw the argument, and now the Throne's my own.
Men: Of course he saw the argument, and now the Throne's his own.


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   Page created 27 September 2016 .