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No. 5 - Chorus of Cowards - "Can't you see?"

MIDI File

Men: Can't you see we're coming?
(Hang their horrid drumming,
Is there anything about us looks like recruits?)
Yes! of course we're willing,
(Catch us take the shilling!
All our martial ardour is in our boots!)
Tenors: We wish...
Basses:   to say...    
Tenors:     we are...  
Basses:       afraid!
Tenors: Enlisting's not our trade!
Basses: We are afraid,
Poltroons we are, yes! we are,
Tenors: Poltroons...
Basses:   yes! we are!
All: With no appetite for war!
Tenors: For brave...
Basses:   we are not,
Tenors:     ah! brave...
Basses:       we are not!
All: Substitutes, too, can be bought!
Tenors: To life...
Basses:   do we cling,
Tenors: To life...
Basses:   do we cling,
All: More than ev'ry other thing!
More than ev'ry other thing!
We frankly own poltroons we are,
And have no appetite for war!

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British Musical Theatre | Rip Van Winkle

Page modified 29 May 2017