No. 17 - Trio - "Too Clever by Half"

from "The Shop Girl"
Music by Ivan Caryll
Words by Adrian Ross
Sequenced by Colin Johnson
All Rights Reserved

By Ivan Caryll
Generated by NoteWorthy Composer

[Sir George:] If you can fully fathom human folly and fatuity,
And bluff and spoof and wheedle anybody that you please,
[Count:] If you're a second Grand Old Man for artful ambiguity,
And rather more mendacious than a Mephistopheles.
[Colonel:] Then listen to my maxim for I think there's not a doubt of it,
Although you're a deceiver diabolically deft,
[Sir George:] Yet when you try to dupe the world, you find that you are out of it,
You may be very clever but you just get left.
[All:] Then men will gibe and jeer and laugh,
When you're too clever, too clever by half,
Though never so clever your aim and endeavour,
You finally manage to just get left.
Then men will gibe and jeer and laugh,
When you're too clever, too clever by half,
Though never so clever your aim and endeavour,
You finally manage to just get left.

[Count:] If you go to Monte Carlo with a system mathematical,
Intending ev'ry shekel of the company to win;
[Sir George:] Perhaps you start by gaining and it makes you feel ecstatical,
You double and you double and the bankers give a grin.
[Colonel:] And in about a week or two you go and you apply to them,
Of money and of credit you are utterly bereft,
[Count:] They pay your fare to London and you bid a sad good-bye to them,
You may be very clever but you've just got left.
[All:] All friends at home are sure to chaff,
A chap too clever, too clever by half,
By methods of playing, so certain of paying,
You manage, you manage to just get left!
All friends at home are sure to chaff,
A chap too clever, too clever by half,
By methods of playing, so certain of paying,
You manage, you manage to just get left!

[Colonel:] If you've founded building companies and many a Society,
All trading with each other in the Liberator line,
[Count:] You may perhaps imagine that your health requires variety,
And seek the far seclusion of the artless Argentine.
[Sir George:] But when you're growing orchids and there's nothing much exciting you,
Tho' other people charge you with embezzlement and theft,
[Colonel:] Your hospitable Argentines decide on extraditing you,
You may be very clever but you can't get left.
[All:] And friends and foes will say and laugh,
That you're too clever, too clever by half,
Though skilfully shaping your plan for escaping,
You manage, you manage to just get left.
And friends and foes will say and laugh,
That you're too clever, too clever by half,
Though skilfully shaping your plan for escaping,
You manage, you manage to just get left.

Karaoke version by Colin Johnson

No. 17 - Trio
Soft karaoke
Words
Sir George
Count
Colonel
Right Hand
Left Hand