The Yeomen of the Guard by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan

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No. 19: TRIO (Elsie, Phœbe & Fairfax)

"A man who would woo a fair maid"

Orchestral arrangement
MIDI File [36KB, 3' 28"] Sequenced by George Pollen

Fairfax.

A man who would woo a fair maid,
Should 'prentice himself to the trade;
And study all day,
In methodical way,
How to flatter, cajole, and persuade.
He should 'prentice himself at fourteen,
And practise from morning to e'en;
And when he's of age,
If he will, I'll engage,
He may capture the heart of a queen,
The heart of a queen!

All.

It is purely a matter of skill,
Which all may attain if they will.
But every Jack
He must study the knack
If he wants to make sure of his Jill!
If he wants to make sure of his Jill!

Click on picture to enlarge — Colonel Fairfax (Leonard Osborn),
Phœbe Meryll (Joyce Wright),
and Elsie Maynard (Muriel Harding) instruct
Jack Point (Peter Pratt) in the art of wooing.

Elsie.

If he's made the best use of his time,
His twig he'll so carefully lime
That every bird
Will come down at his word,
Whatever its plumage or clime.
He must learn that the thrill of a touch
May mean little, or nothing, or much;
It's an instrument rare,
To be handled with care,
And ought to be treated as such,
Ought to be treated as such.

All.

It is purely a matter of skill,
Which all may attain if they will.
But every Jack
He must study the knack
If he wants to make sure of his Jill!
If he wants to make sure of his Jill!

Phœbe.

Then a glance may be timid or free;
It will vary in mighty degree,
From an impudent stare
To a look of despair
That no maid without pity can see!
And a glance of despair is no guide —
It may have its ridiculous side;
It may draw you a tear
Or a box on the ear;
You can never be sure till you've tried!
Never be sure till you've tried!

Elsie.	Phœbe & Fairfax.
It is purely a matter of skill, Which all may attain if they will: But every Jack, He must study the knack If he wants to make sure of his Jill, If he wants to make sure, to make sure	It is purely a matter of skill, Which all may attain if they will: But every Jack, He must study the knack If he wants to make sure of his Jill, If he wants to make sure of his Jill!
of his Jill!	But every Jack, Must study the knack,
Sure of his Jill!	But every Jack, Must study the knack
If he wants to make sure of his Jill! Yes, every Jack, Must study the knack If he wants to make sure of his Jill!	If he wants to make sure of his Jill! Yes, every Jack, Must study the knack If he wants to make sure of his Jill!

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