HMS Pinafore by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan

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No. 16: TRIO (Josephine, Captain & Sir Joseph)

"Never mind the why and wherefore"

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Captain.

Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore,
Though his lordship's station's mighty,
Though stupendous be his brain,
Though her tastes are mean and flighty
And her fortune poor and plain,

Captain & Sir Joseph.

Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!

Captain.

For a humble captain's daughter —

Josephine.

For a gallant captain's daughter —

Sir Joseph.

And a lord who rules the water —

Josephine. (aside)

And a tar who ploughs the water!

All.

Let the air with joy be laden,
Rend with songs the air above,
For the union of a maiden
With the man who owns her love!

Sir. Joseph.

Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore,
Though your nautical relation (alluding to Capt.)
In my set could scarcely pass,
Though you occupy a station
In the lower middle class —

Captain & Sir Joseph.

Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!

Click on picture to enlarge — Sir Joseph (Henry Lytton) Josephine (Elsie Griffin) and the Captain (Leo Sheffield), 1926

Captain.

For a humble captain's daughter —

Josephine.

For a gallant captain's daughter —

Sir Joseph.

And a lord who rules the water —

Josephine. (aside)

And a tar who ploughs the water!

All.

Let the air with joy be laden,
Rend with songs the air above,
For the union of a maiden
With the man who owns her love!

Josephine.

Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore
I admit the jurisdiction;
Ably have you played your part;
You have carried firm conviction
To my hesitating heart.

Captain & Sir Joseph.

Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!

Captain.

For a humble captain's daughter —

Josephine.

For a gallant captain's daughter —

Sir Joseph.

And a lord who rules the water —

Josephine. (aside)

And a tar who ploughs the water!

Josephine. (aloud)

Let the air with joy be laden.

Captain & Sir Joseph.

Ring the merry bells on board-ship,

Josephine.

For the union of a maiden —

Captain & Sir Joseph.

For her union with his lordship.

All.

Rend with songs the air above,
For the man who owns her love!
Rend with songs the air above,
For the man who owns her love!

Exit Josephine.

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