Gilbert and Sullivan Archive

The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive

No. 12: Finale Act 1

“Not Guilty” I declare

ALICE

“Not guilty” I declare, But let the Knave take care In future not to steal the tempting tarts

KING

Not guilty, then I fear You cannot now, my dear, Behead for stealing that bad Knave of Hearts.

QUEEN

Not guilty! Oh, it’s shocking, Miss Alice must be mocking, Don’t tell me that the tarts themselves ran off, and left the shelf!

ALICE

Yes, that’s the view I’ve taken, If your nerves, my dear, are shaken, I would venture to advise you just to execute yourself.

CHILDREN

Yes, that’s the view we’ve taken, And if your nerves are shaken, We would venture to advise you just to execute yourself. Yes, that’s the view we’ve taken, If your nerves, my dear, are shaken, We would venture to advise you just to execute yourself. Yes, execute yourself.

ALL

It’s very hard upon the Queen of Hearts Who vowed the Knave stole tarts; To find that Knave by verdict of one friend “Not guilty” in the end. Not guilty, not guilty, not guilty in the end. Not guilty, not guilty, not guilty in the end. It’s very hard upon the Queen of Hearts Who vowed the Knave stole tarts; To find that Knave by verdict of one friend “Not guilty” in the end.

Not guilty we declare. But let the Knave take care, In future from the tarts to keep his hand. Not guilty! now we know Why these strange things are so And why our Alice came to Wonderland, Wonderland, Why Alice came to Wonderland.