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ACT I
No. 1: Chorus & Dance
Music by Arthur Sullivan
MIDI File [44KB, 5' 51"]
SCENE. — The scene is outside the park gates of the
Lord Lieutenant's country residence. Blind Murphy's cabin at side.
The stage is empty.
Peasants, men and girls, enter gradually, and gather one by one.
| Girls. | |
| Have you heard the brave news that is going around? | |
| Basses. | |
| Do ye mean that blind Murphy's owld pig has been found? | |
| Tenors. | |
| Sure, it's better than that what ye mane, I'll be bound, | |
| Basses. | |
| Are ye spakin' of Terence O'Brian at all? | |
| Girls. | |
|
And it's Terence has sent us a warnin' to say He is secretly coming among us to-day, | |
| Men. | |
|
And the Saxons may send us to Botany Bay, But it's Ireland that's ready to answer his call! | |
| All. | |
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For it's Terence, they tell, has an elegant style, And there's not a colleen but would die for his smile; He's the red-hottest rebel in all of this Isle, And that's why we're howlding this open-air ball! |
The men and girls take partners and dance.
| Girls. | |
|
Now be aisy wid taisin' And squazin' and sazin' My waist wid your arm like a bundle o' hay! It's meself that is dress'd In my best and distressed To be tumbled and pressed in that impudent way! | |
| Men. | |
| Now be aisy wid taisin' Is squazin' displazin'? It's wasted the arm that is empty to-day! It's meself that is dressed In my best, and distressed To be humbled and pressed to keep out of your way! | |
| Girls. | Men. |
| Will I bid ye good-day? | |
| Now be aisy wid taisin'! Is squazin' so plazin'? | |
| Sure now, my hat I'll be raisin', And walkin' away! | |
| Now be aisy wid taisin'! | |
| Acoushla mavourneen, Acoushla macrae! | |
| If you're hat you'll be raisin' And walkin' away, Now, sure it's meself will not stand in your way! | |
| Acoushla mavourneen, Acoushla macrae! | |
| If you're hat you'll be raisin' And walkin' away, See now, sure it's meself will not stand in your way! | |
| If your hat you'll be raisin' | O Acoushla mavourneen, |
| And walkin' away, | Acoushla macrae! |
| If you're hat you'll be raisin', And walkin' | Acoushla |
| away, See now, sure it's | mavourneen! |
| meself will not stand in your way, | Acoushla |
| will not stand in your way! | macrae! |
Enter Terence.
No. 2. Recit. & Song (Terence)
Music by Arthur Sullivan
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| Terence. | |
| Terence O'Brian! Rebel or patriot — which will you call me? |
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| All. | |
| Hooroo for you! Here's to you, Terence, darlin', Terence, darlin',Terence, darlin'! |
| Terence. | Chorus. |
| I'm descended from Brian Boru, | |
| Hooroo! | |
| My blood is the elegant hue, | |
| True blue! | |
| That colours the veins of the fortunate few Who are sons of the Kings of Erin! And whenever a Saxon Viceroy comes To Ireland's shore With cannons' roar And fifes and drums And flags galore, Who'll join in the Saxon cheerin'? | |
| Who? Who? | |
| Not I, for one, The worthy son Of Brian Boru! | |
| Hooroo for you! | |
| But as he would have done My father's son Will do! | |
| Hooroo For Brian Boru! And you, | |
| Bowld Rebel O'Brian! | Bowld Rebel O'Brian! |
| Now if Brian Boru were about — | |
| We'd shout! | |
| The Saxon invader he'd flout — | |
| Rout out! | |
| And such importations in future no doubt He would put a restrictive tax on! So if ever a Lord Lieutenant comes To Ireland's shore With cannons' roar And fifes and drums And flags galore, Who'll help to get rid of the Saxon? | |
| Who? Who? | |
| Well I, for one, The worthy son Of Brian Boru! | |
| Hooroo for you! | |
| For as he would have done, His father's son Will do! | |
| Hooroo For Brian Boru! And you, | |
| Bowld Rebel O'Brian! | Bowld Rebel O'Brian! |
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Page modified 28 May 2010