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H.M.S. Pinafore
or The Lass Who Loved A Sailor

THREE SONGS

LITTLE BUTTERCUP
For I'm called Little Buttercup—dear Little Buttercup,
    Though I can never tell why,
But still I'm called Buttercup—dear Little Buttercup,
    Sweet Little Buttercup I!

I've snuff and tobaccy, and excellent jacky,
    I've scissors, and watches, and knives;
I've ribbons and laces to set off the faces
    Of pretty young sweethearts and wives.

I've treacle and toffee, I've tea and I've coffee,
    Soft tommy and succulent chops;
I've chickens and conies, and pretty polonies,
    And excellent peppermint drops.

Then buy of your Buttercup—dear Little Buttercup,
    Sailors should never be shy;
So, buy of your Buttercup, poor Little Buttercup,
    Come of your Buttercup buy!

SIR JOSEPH: This is one of the most famous of all the the Gilbert and Sullivan arias.

When I was a lad I served a term
As office boy to an Attorney's firm.
I cleaned the windows and I swept the floor,
And I polished up the handle on the big front door
I polished up that handle so carefullee
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS: He polished, etc.

As office boy I mad such a mark
That they gave me the post of a junior clerk.
I served the writs with a smile so bland,
And I copied all the letters in a big round hand.
I copied all the letters in a hand so free,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS: He copied, etc.

In serving writs I made such a name
That an articled clerk I soon became;
I wore clean collars and a brand new suit
For the pass examination at the Institute,
And that pass examination did so well for me,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS: And that pass examination, etc.

Of legal knowledge I acquired such a grip
That they took me into the Partnership,
And that junior partnership, I ween,
Was the only ship that I ever had seen.
But that kind of ship so suited me,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS: But that kind, etc.

I grew so rich that I was sent
By a pocket borough into Parliament.
I always voted at my party's call,
And I never thought of thinking for myself at all.
I thought so little, they rewarded me
By making me the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS: He thought so little, etc.

Now landsmen all, whoever you may be,
If you want to rise to the top of the tree,
If your soul isn't fettered to an office stool,
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule –
Stick close to your desks and never go to sea,
And you all may be Rulers of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS: Stick close, etc.

LITTLE BUTTERCUP AND THE CAPTAIN: Buttercup has been dropping hints all along that there is something in the wind but here she is getting close to making her startling disclosure about Ralph and the Captain. Throughout the entire duet, the Captain is completely befuddled as to what she can possibly mean. It uses a frequent device of Gilbert's, that or stringing together many proverbs and references to fables, all of which illustrated a point he is making.

 

 

 

BUT: Things seldom what they seem,
Skim milk masquerades as cream;
Highlows pass as patent leathers;
Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers.
CAPT: Very true,
So they do.

 

 BUT: Though I'm anything but clever,
I could talk like that for ever;
Once a cat was killed by care;
Only brave deserve the fair.
CAPT: Very true,
So they do.

 

 

 

BUT: Black sheep dwell in every fold;
All that glitters is not gold;
Storks turn out to be but logs;
Bulls are but inflated frogs;
CAPT: So they be,
Frequentlee.

 

 


 BUT: Wink is often good as nod
Spoils the child who spares the rod;
Thirsty lambs run foxy dangers;
Dogs are found in many mangers.
CAPT: Frequentlee,
I agree.

 

 

BUT: Drops the wind and stops the mill;
Turbot is ambitious brill;
Gild the farthing if you will,
Yet it is a farthing still.
CAPT: Yes, I know.
That is so.

 

 


 BUT: Paw of cat the chestnut snatches;
Worn-out garments show new patches;
Only count the chick that hatches;
Mean are grown-up catchy-catchies.
CAPT: Yes, I know,
That is so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPT: Though to catch your drift I'm striving,
It is shady–it is shady;
I don't see at what you're driving,
Mystic lady–mystic lady.
Stern conviction's o'er me stealing.
That the mystic lady's dealing
In oracular revealing.
BUT: Stern conviction's o'er him stealing.
That the mystic lady's dealing
In oracular revealing.

BOTH: Yes, I know –
That is so!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUT: Though to catch my drift he's striving,
I'll dissemble – I'll dissemble;
When he sees at what I'm striving,
Let him tremble–let him tremble!

BOTH: Though a mystic tone {I/you} borrow,
{You will/I shall} learn the truth with sorrow,
Here today and gone tomorrow;
Yes, I know –
That is so!

 

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Revised January 2008
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