[ti:The Gondoliers: There Lived a King, As I've Been Told]
[ar:Glyndebourne Festival Chorus]
[al:Gilbert & Sullivan: The Highlights]
[by:]
[offset:0]
[00:00.34]The Gondoliers: There Lived a King, As I've Been Told - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
[00:04.62]DON: There lived a King as I've been told
[00:07.78]In the wonder-working days of old
[00:10.53]When hearts were twice as good as gold
[00:13.11]And twenty times as mellow
[00:15.59]Good-temper triumphed in his face
[00:18.04]And in his heart he found a place
[00:20.68]For all the erring human race
[00:23.28]And every wretched fellow
[00:25.95]When he had Rhenish wine to drink
[00:28.53]It made him very sad to think
[00:31.08]That some at junket or at jink
[00:33.68]Must be content with toddy
[00:35.95]M&G: With toddy must be content with toddy
[00:41.04]DON: He wished all men as rich as he
[00:44.02]And he was rich as rich could be
[00:46.73]So to the top of every tree
[00:48.97]Promoted everybody
[00:51.21]M&G: Now that's the kind of King for me
[00:54.12]He wished all men as rich as he
[00:57.02]So to the top of every tree
[00:59.20]Promoted everybody
[01:01.51]DON: Lord Chancellors were cheap as sprats
[01:04.67]And Bishops in their shovel hats
[01:07.15]Were plentiful as tabby cats
[01:09.75]In point of fact too many
[01:12.20]Ambassadors cropped up like hay
[01:14.85]Prime Ministers and such as they
[01:17.44]Grew like asparagus in May
[01:20.05]And Dukes were three a penny
[01:22.73]On every side FieldMarshals gleamed
[01:25.37]Small beer were LordsLieutenant deemed
[01:27.97]With Admirals the ocean teemed
[01:30.67]All round his wide dominions
[01:33.00]M&G: All round his wide dominions
[01:38.02]DON: And Party Leaders you might meet
[01:41.09]In twos and threes in every street
[01:43.71]Maintaining with no little heat
[01:46.08]Their various opinions
[01:48.21]M&G: Now that's a sight you couldn't beat
[01:51.22]Two Party Leaders in each street
[01:54.05]Maintaining with no little heat
[01:56.35]Their various opinions
[01:58.65]DON: That King although no one denies
[02:01.52]His heart was of abnormal size
[02:04.36]Yet he'd have acted otherwise
[02:06.95]If he had been acuter
[02:09.40]The end is easily foretold
[02:12.00]When every blessed thing you hold
[02:14.57]Is made of silver or of gold
[02:17.46]You long for simple pewter
[02:20.00]When you have nothing else to wear
[02:22.45]But cloth of gold and satins rare
[02:25.08]For cloth of gold you cease to care
[02:27.65]Up goes the price of shoddy
[02:29.98]M&G: Up shoddy goes the price of shoddy
[02:34.89]DON: In short whoever you may be
[02:39.20]To this conclusion you'll agree
[02:41.90]When every one is somebody
[02:45.17]Then no one's anybody
[02:47.51]M&G: Now that's as plain as plain can be
[02:50.39]To this conclusion we agree
[02:53.22]When every one is somebody
[02:56.71]Then no one's anybody