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You are here: > > > Act I
No. 2: Song (Nanki-Poo & Chorus)
"A wand'ring minstrel I"
Durward Lely, the original Nanki-Poo
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| Nanki-Poo. |
A wandering minstrel I —
A thing of shreds and patches,
Of ballads, songs and snatches,
And dreamy lullaby!
My catalogue is long,
Through every passion ranging,
And to your humours changing
I tune my supple song!
I tune my supple song!
Are you in sentimental mood?
I'll sigh with you,
Oh, sorrow, sorrow!
On maiden's coldness do you brood?
I'll do so, too —
Oh, sorrow, sorrow!
I'll charm your willing ears
With songs of lovers' fears,
While sympathetic tears
My cheeks bedew —
Oh, sorrow, sorrow! |
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But if patriotic sentiment is wanted,
I've patriotic ballads cut and dried;
For where'er our country's banner may be planted,
All other local banners are defied!
Our warriors, in serried ranks assembled,
Never quail — or they conceal it if they do —
And I shouldn't be surprised if nations trembled
Before the mighty troops, the troops of Titipu! |
| Chorus. |
We shouldn't be surprised if nations trembled,
Trembled with alarm
Before the mighty troops,
The troops of Titipu! |
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Derek Oldham as Nanki-Poo, 1919
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Thomas Round as Nanki-Poo, 1950s
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| Nanki-Poo. |
And if you call for a song of the sea,
We'll heave the capstan round,
With a yeo heave ho, for the wind is free,
Her anchor's a-trip and her helm's a-lee,
Hurrah for the homeward bound! |
| Chorus. |
Yeo-ho — heave ho —
Hurrah for the homeward bound! |
| Nanki-Poo. |
To lay aloft in a howling breeze
May tickle a landsman's taste,
But the happiest hour a sailor sees
Is when he's down
At an inland town,
With his Nancy on his knees, yeo ho!
And his arm around her waist! |
| Chorus. |
Then man the capstan — off we go,
As the fiddler swings us round,
With a yeo heave ho,
And a rum below,
Hurrah for the homeward bound!
With a yeo heave ho,
And a rum below,
Yeo-ho, heave ho,
Yeo-ho, heave ho,
Heave ho, heave ho, yeo-ho! |
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| Nanki-Poo. |
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A wandering minstrel I —
A thing of shreds and patches,
Of ballads, songs and snatches,
And dreamy lullaby! |
Chorus. |
| And dreamy lulla-lullaby, |
Of dreamy lullaby, |
| Lullaby! |
Lullaby! |
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Page updated
30 April, 2008
Copyright © 2005-8 The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive All Rights Reserved
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