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No. 5 - Gavotte Quintette - "In London Town"

MIDI File

Chorus: It is trot, trot, trot on the turnpike road,
All of a fresh spring morning,
While the whip-lash swings and the post-horn sings,
And the music gives all warning.
It is trot, trot, trot on the turnpike road,
All in the April weather,
While whip and horn, on echoes borne,
Sing a jolly duet together.
Tang-ta-ta-ra. Crick-crack, crick-crack,
Tang-ta-ra. Crick-crack, crick-crack, away.
O list to the whip-lash ring,
And hark to the post-horn sing,
Their song we hear so gay and so clear,
We trot away upon the turnpike road, away!
We trot away upon the turnpike road, away!
   
Pamela: From London town, from London town,
We come in periwigs, patches and paint,
Lovelace & others:  On a coach and four
To your rustic door,
And we find you exceedingly queer and quaint.
Chorus: And they find us exceedingly queer and quaint.
Pamela: Of London town it's little you know,
So we'll tell you the chief of our aims is
Principals: To pose and prattle,
Take tea and tittle-tattle
In Piccadilly or St. James's.
Chorus: In Piccadilly or St. James's.
   
Pamela: In London town, in London town,
With snuff-box, quizzing glass, fluttering fan,
Lovelace & others: How we sneer and strut,
And our old friends cut;
All but those who are smartest are 'neath our ban.
Chorus: All but those who are smartest are 'neath our ban.
Pamela: Of London town it's little you know,
Rustic you with your herds and your flocks all.
Principals: We've such compassion
For people out of fashion
In Ranelagh and in Vauxhall.
Chorus: In Ranelagh and in Vauxhall.
   
Pamela: In London town, in London town,
Polly mustn't venture in her home-spun gown,
The Strephon of a village is a veritable clown
When he ventures in society in London town.
Others: In London town,
All: In London town,
Polly mustn't venture in her home-spun gown,
The Strephon of a village is a veritable clown
When he ventures in society in London town.
   
Pamela: Thus we dance, in this style sedately,
Lovelace: All the latest figures that have come from France.
All: Thus we trip a gavotte sedately,
Pamela: Dignified and stately,
Others: Dignified and stately,
Chorus: Thus they trip a gavotte sedately,
Pamela: Statuesquely posing in a courtly dance.
Pamela, Lovelace & Doll:
  Hand to hand with languid air and smile.
Toby & Sir Godfrey: With languid smile.
Pamela & Lovelace: Slowly, eyes meet eyes
With ev'ry most infatuating wile,
Chorus: Let us try to imitate them.
Pamela & Lovelace: 'Tis a dance of witchery and guile.
Pamela: And ah! Love has his fairest chance
With partners in this stately dance.
Chorus: Let us try this dance so stately.
Pamela, Lovelace & Doll:
  Dignified and stately,
Toby & Sir Godfrey: Dignified and stately,
Chorus: Thus we trip a gavotte sedately,
Like this, this style,
Toby & Sir Godfrey: With curtsey low,
Chorus: all smile,
Pamela, Lovelace & Doll:
  With curtsey low,
We bow,
Toby & Sir Godfrey: We bow,
Pamela, Lovelace & Doll:
  Bow low,
All: Just so.

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American Musical Theatre | The Highwayman

Page modified 11 December 2016