 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No. 14 - Opening Chorus Act II
| Men: | We're the cream of courtly creatures, Mighty mandarins, Similar in form and features, Like a row of pins; But although when seen together We're alike, perhaps, Some may sport a yellow jacket, Others enviously lack it, Others wear a lofty feather Nodding in their caps. But the flow'r of the favour'd crop, crop, crop, And the heights at which honours stop, stop, stop, Is the crystalline sphere That we carry up here, It's the little round button on top, top, top! Though our feathers and robes you lop, lop, lop, And our jackets we have to drop, drop, drop, We care not for that If you leave us a hat With a little round button on top, top top, A little round button on top! |
| Ladies: | We're a string of girls Like the pearls Of a necklace! Coming in a band By command. Some of us could cry, We're so shy, Some are reckless, For it feels so queer To be here. Little China ladies Each of us dismay'd is Having to chin-chin With a mandarin. |
| Men: | Introducing ladies Quite an escapade is, And appears a sin To a mandarin. |
| All: | Hush! here comes the Emperor. All adore On the floor, Genuflect With respect, Lowly bow, Knock your brow, Lowly bow, Knock your brow, Now, now Kow Tow. |
 |
 |
|
Page modified 23 February 2017