No. 13 - Act II Opening Chorus and Scene

from "His Excellency"
Music by Frank Osmond Carr
Words by W. S. Gilbert
Sequenced by Colin Johnson
All Rights Reserved

By F. Osmond Carr
Generated by NoteWorthy Composer

[Men:] With anger stern
And fierce determination,
We wait to learn
The fate of our appeal.
[Ladies:] To Regent just
We've given information,
And this, we trust,
The tyrant's doom will seal.
[Chorus:] And this, we trust,
The tyrant's doom will seal.
[Erling:] This mite of a man who'll plot and plan
To ruin us all for his delight-
[Tortenssen:] The mannikin ape in human shape-
[Dame:] This tuppenny ha'penny lump of spite!
[Chorus:] This tuppenny ha'penny,
[Principals:] This tuppenny ha'penny,
[Chorus:] This tuppenny ha'penny,
[Principals:] This tuppenny ha'penny,
[Chorus:] This tuppenny ha'penny,
[Principals:] This tuppenny ha'penny,
[Chorus:] This tuppenny ha'penny lump of spite!
[Principals:] This lump of spite!
[Chorus:] This lump of spite!
[Principals:] This lump of spite!
[Chorus:] This lump of spite!
[All:] This tuppenny ha'penny,
tuppenny ha'penny lump of spite!
[Christina:] Be comforted- his downfall I foresee,
All who exceed the bounds of strict simplicity,
And, yielding to a taste for eccentricity,
Fly in the face of orthodox morality,
Must dearly pay for their originality-
You know the story of the wilful bee?
[Chorus:] We don't! We never heard it!
[Erling:] Who was he?

[Christina:] A hive of bees, as I've heard say,
Said to their Queen one sultry day:
"Please, your Majesty's high position,
The hive is full and the weather is warm,
We rather think, with a due submission,
The time has come when we ought to swarm?"
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] Up spake their Queen, and thus spake she:
"This is a matter that rests with me,
Who dares opinion thus to form?
I'll tell you when it is time to swarm!"
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] Her Majesty wore an angry frown,
In fact Her Majesty's foot was down-
Her Majesty sulked- declined to sup-
In short Her Majesty's back was up.
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] Her foot was down and her back was up!
That hive contained one obstinate bee
(His name was Peter), and thus spake he:
"Though ev'ry bee has shown white feather,
To bow to fashion I am not prone-
Why should a hive swarm all together?
Surely a bee can swarm alone?"
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] Upside down and inside out,
Backwards, forwards, round about,
Twirling here and twisting there,
Topsy turvily ev'rywhere-
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] Pitiful sight it was to see
Respectable elderly high-class bee,
Who kicked the beam at sixteen stone,
Trying his best to swarm alone!
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] Trying his best to swarm alone!
The hive were shocked to see their chum
(A strict teetotaller) teetotum-
The Queen exclaimed, "How terrible, very!
It's perfectly clear to all the throng
Peter's been at the old brown sherry.
Old brown sherry is much too strong-
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] Of all who thus themselves degrade
A stern example must be made,
To Coventry go, you tipsy bee!"
So off to Coventry town went he.
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] There, classed with all who misbehave,
Both plausible rogue and noisome knave,
In dismal dumps he lived to own
The folly of trying to swarm alone!
[Chorus:] Buzz, buzz.
[Christina:] All came of trying to swarm alone.
[Chorus:] All came of trying to swarm alone.
Well, well- what news?
Does he refuse
Our rightful dues?
What news- what news?
[Mats Munck:] Good news! the Regent, whom we all revere,
Will read the neatly drawn appeal (I drew it!)
Without an hour's delay he'll meet you here,
And if we prove our case the Governor'll rue it!
[Chorus:] Hurrah! Hurrah!
[Mats Munck:] If these our charges home we bring,
He swears the Governor's neck he'll wring:
And when he says he'll do a thing,
He'll do it!
[Chorus:] Hurrah! Hurrah!
The sorrows that damped our lives are past,
And happily all will end at last.
As soon as the audience has been held,
Goodbye to the Governor Griffenfeld!
Goodbye! Goodbye!
Goodbye! Goodbye!
Goodbye to the Governor Griffenfeld!
Goodbye! Goodbye!
Goodbye to the Governor Griffenfeld,
to the Governor Griffenfeld!
Goodbye! Goodbye!
Goodbye! Goodbye!
Goodbye! Goodbye! Goodbye!
[Erling:] Ah, false one! Ah, false one!
[Nanna:] With humbled head- in desperation dire-
I tidings bring from my repentant sire.
He much regrets his foolish whim.
[Thora:] And hopes you'll intercede for him;
For though his gore at retractation rises,
He's very sorry- and apologizes,
[Nanna:] He can't say more-
[Thora:] He's very sorry-
[Nanna:] He's very sorry-
[Both:] He's very sorry, and apologizes!
[Tortenssen:] No word of sorrow for inflicted pain-
No accent of contrition does she deign!
Go heartless girl, you plead for him in vain.

[Griffenfeld:] Complying with the popular request,
So prettily expressed-
[Mats Munck:] I drew it!
[Griffenfeld:] The Regent comes-
Forgive our little plot-
Our penitence, do not pooh-pooh it!
[Thora:] If still to press your grievance you agree,
Then I feel certain we shall rue it!
[Nanna:] So please withdraw, as we are penitent,
That well-drawn document.
[Mats Munck:] I drew it!
[Chorus:] No, no; No, no; no mercy will we show,
Away with you, you plead in vain.
No word of ours shall stop the blow;
Your pray'r we will not entertain!

[All:] Hail, O Regent Prince!
Coming to requite us!
Matters not to mince,
You will nobly right, will nobly right us.
[Men:] Your disgust evince-
Make the tyrant wince-
Hail, O Sov'reign Prince,
[All:] Hail, O Sov'reign Prince,
Hail, O Sov'reign Prince,
Whose decrees delight us!

[Regent:] I've read your dutiful memorial:
If any others for reprisals call,
Or, suff'ring grievance, wish me to abate it,
This is your opportunity to state it.
[Harold:] May it please your Highness!
Though we're eager for to sally
In the doughty field of Mars-
[Men:] May it please your Royal Highness!
[Harold:] And encounter, generally,
Any quantity of scars-
[Men:] May it please your Royal Highness!
[Harold:] Yet for mischief, principally,
He has turned us into ballet,
And we feel it personally-
It is rough on brave Hussars!
[Men:] Yes, it's rough on brave Hussars!
[Regent:] Yes, it's rough on brave Hussars!
[Men:] Yes, you're right, your Royal Highness,
It is rough on brave Hussars!

[Harold:] If we urge, in accents courtly,
That it wounds our proper pride-
[Men:] May it please your Royal Highness!
[Harold:] Why, he answers us retortly,
And for mutiny we're tried-
[Men:] May it please your Royal Highness!
[Harold:] We are soldiers grave and portly,
And it aggravates us mort'lly,
For, to put the matter shortly,
Well, it is not dignified!
[Men:] No, it isn't dignified!
[Regent:] No, it isn't dignified!
[Basses:] Look at this, your Royal Highness,
[Tenors:] Look at this, your Royal Highness,
[Men:] Look at this, your Royal Highness-
It is far from dignified!
(Ballet.)
[Regent:] My people, who've submitted to the Governor's absurdities,
I sympathize most heartily with ev'ry word you say;
His Excellency's conduct is too bad- upon my word it is-
But all his wrongs I'll rectify without undue delay.
On Erling, who has suffered from his mischievous malignity,
We shed the sunny summer of our Sovereign benignity,
And ratify all promises of dollars and of dignity:
So consequently Nanna will be his this very day.
[Chorus:] So consequently Nanna will be his this very day.
Oh, Nanna will be his this very day,
And all his sorrows hide themselves away;
I will handsomely array me
In my very best to play me,
For Miss Nanna will be his this very day!
[Regent:] You, Tortenssen, who Griffenfeld with impudent audacity
Appointed our Physician- why, that gift is ratified
With promised rank of Baron- in that dignified capacity
He's warranted in claiming pretty Thora as his bride.
And Harold, gallant Corporal, who with a spite oppressional,
Was made to twist and turn about like balletgirl professional,
Dispensing with the many intermediate steps progressional,
A Colonel he's created at one mighty giant stride!
[Chorus:] A Colonel he's created at one mighty giant stride!
Upon my word, we're truly gratified,
To justify your choice will be their pride;
For we think you've chosen rightly,
And we thank you most politely,
For upon my word, we're truly gratified.

[Regent:] And now for Gov'nor Griffenfeld- we highly to extol you meant,
But, finding you're addicted to discreditable pranks,
We strip you of your dignity, position, and emolument,
And name Mats Munck as Governor- we don't want any thanks.
And, as in these proceedings we are banded all in unity,
I think we couldn't find a more convenient opportunity
Of proving that imposture can't be practised with impunity.
For all your impositions you're degraded in the ranks!
[Chorus:] For all your impositions you're degraded in the ranks!
Assuredly there's nothing to be said,
He's lucky in escaping with his head!
He loses all his payment,
And his most expensive raiment,
And he'll take his turn at sentry-go instead!
[Regent:] Now all you men and maidens true,
Who troth have duly plighted-
(I understand you're not a few)
Your wrongs shall all be righted:
At his expense a banquet to
You're cordially invited,
And in the Castle Chapel you
This day shall be united!
[Chorus:] Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
Oh, bright delight- go find a priest!
The wedding and the wedding feast,
At your expense, will soon be held,
So thank you, Private Griffenfeld!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
At your expense they will be held,
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Three cheers for Private Griffenfeld!
So thank you!
[Griffenfeld:] Thank you!
[Chorus:] Thank you!
[Griffenfeld:] Thank you!
[Chorus:] Thank you Private Griffenfeld!
So thank you!
[Griffenfeld:] Thank you!
[Chorus:] Thank you!
[Griffenfeld:] Thank you!
[Chorus:] Thank you, thank you,
Thank you Private Griffenfeld!

With anger stern
And fierce determination,
We wait to learn
The fate of our appeal.
To Regent just
We've given information,
And this, we trust,
The tyrant's doom will seal.
And this, we trust,
The tyrant's doom will seal.
The mite of a man who'll plot and plan
To ruin us all for his delight-
The mannikin ape in human shape-
This tuppenny ha'penny lump of spite!
This tuppenny ha'penny,
This tuppenny ha'penny,
This tuppenny ha'penny,
This tuppenny ha'penny,
This tuppenny ha'penny,
This tuppenny ha'penny,
This tuppenny ha'penny lump of spite!
This lump of spite!
This lump of spite!
This lump of spite!
This lump of spite!
This tuppenny ha'penny,
tuppenny ha'penny lump of spite!
Be comfortedhis downfall I foresee,
All who exceed the bounds of strict simplicity,
And, yielding to a taste for eccentricity,
Fly in the face of orthodox morality,
Must dearly pay for their originality-
You know the story of the wilful bee?
We don't! We never heard it!
Who was he?

A hive of bees, as I've heard say,
Said to their Queen one sultry day-
"Please, your Majesty's high position,
The hive is full and the weather is warm,
We rather think, with a due submission,
The time has come when we ought to swarm?"
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
Outspake their Queen, and thus spake she-
"This is a matter that rests with me,
Who dares opinion thus to form?
I'll tell you when it is time to swarm!"
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
Her Majesty wore an angry frown,
In fact Her Majesty's foot was down-
Her Majesty sulkeddeclined to sup-
In short Her Majesty's back was up.
Buzz, buzz,
Her foot was down and her back was up!
That hive contained one obstinate bee
(His name was Peter), and thus spake he-
"Though ev'ry bee has shown white feather,
To bow to fashion I am not prone-
Why should a hive swarm all together?
Surely a bee can swarm alone?"
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
Upside down and inside out,
Backwards forwards round about,
Twirling here and twisting there,
Topsy turvily ev'rywhere-
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
Pitiful sight it was to see
Respectable elderly highclass bee,
Who kicked the beam at sixteen stone,
Trying his best to swarm alone!
Buzz, buzz,
Trying his best to swarm alone!
The hive were shocked to see their chum
(A strict teetotaller) teetotum-
The Queen exclaimed, "How terrible, very!
It's perfectly clear to all the throng
Peter's been at the old brown sherry.
Old brown sherry is much too strong-
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
Of all who thus themselves degrade
A stern example must be made,
To Coventry go, you tipsy bee!"
So off to Coventry town went he.
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
There, classed with all who misbehave,
Both plausible rogue and noisome knave,
In dismal dumps he lived to own
The folly of trying to swarm alone!
Buzz, buzz,
All came of trying to swarm alone.
All came of trying to swarm alone.
Well, wellwhat news?
Does he refuse
Our rightful dues?
What newswhat news?
Good news! the Regent, whom we all revere,
Will read the neatly drawn appeal (I drew it!)
Without an hour's delay he'll meet you here,
And if we prove our case the Governor'll rue it!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
If these our charges home we bring,
He swears the Governor's neck he'll wring:
And when he says he'll do a thing,
He'll do it!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The sorrows that damped our lives are past,
And happily all will end at last.
As soon as the audience has been held,
Goodbye to the Governor Griffenfeld!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye to the Governor Griffenfeld!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye to the Governor Griffenfeld,
to the Governor Griffenfeld!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Ah, false one! Ah, false one!
With humbled headin desperation dire-
I tidings bring from my repentant sire.
He much regrets his foolish whim.
And hopes you'll intercede for him;
For though his gore at retractation rises,
He's very sorryand apologizes,
He can't say more-
He's very sorry-
He's very sorry-
He's very sorryand apologizes!
No word of sorrow for inflicted pain--
No accent of contrition does she deign!
Go heartless girl, you plead for him in vain.

Complying with the popular request,
So prettily expressed-
I drew it!
The Regent comesforgive our little plot-
Our penitence, do not
Poohpooh it!
If still to press your grievance you agree,
Then I feel certain we
Shall rue it!
So please withdraw, as we are penitent,
That welldrawn document.
I drew it!
No, no; No, no; no mercy will we show-
Away with you, you plead in vain.
No word of ours shall stop the blow;
Your pray'r we will not entertain!

Hail, O Regent Prince!
Coming to requite us!
Matters not to mince,
You will nobly right, will nobly right us.
Your disgust evince-
Make the tyrant wince-
Hail, O Sov'reign Prince,
Hail, O Sov'reign Prince,
Hail, O Sov'reign Prince,
Whose decrees delight us!

I've read your dutiful memorial:
If any others for reprisals call,
Or, suff'ring grievance, wish me to abate it,
This is your opportunity to state it.
May it please your Highness!

Though we're eager for to sally
In the doughty field of Mars-
May it please your Royal Highness!
And encounter, generally,
Any quantity of scars-
May it please your Royal Highness!
Yet for mischief, principally,
He has turned us into ballet,
And we feel it personally-
It is rough on brave Hussars!
Yes, it's rough on brave Hussars!
Yes, it's rough on brave Hussars!
Yes, you're right, your Royal Highness, it is rough on brave Hussars!

If we urge, in accents courtly,
That it wounds our proper pride-
May it please your Royal Highness!
Why, he answers us retortly,
And for mutiny we're tried-
May it please your Royal Highness!
We are soldiers grave and portly,
And it aggravates us mort'lly,
For, to put the matter shortly,
Well, it is not dignified!
No, it isn't dignified!
No, it isn't dignified!
Look at this, your Royal Highness,
Look at this, your Royal Highness,
Look at this, your Royal Highnessit is far from dignified!
(Ballet.)
My people, who've submitted to the Governor's absurdities,
I sympathize most heartily with ev'ry word you say;
His Excellency's conduct is too badupon my word it is-
But all his wrongs I'll rectify without undue delay.
On Erling, who has suffered from his mischievous malignity,
We shed the sunny summer of our Sovereign benignity,
And ratify all promises of dollars and of dignity:
So consequently Nanna will be his this very day.
So consequently Nanna will be his this very day.
Oh, Nanna will be his this very day,
And all his sorrows hide themselves away;
I will handsomely array me
In my very best to play me,
For Miss Nanna will be his this very day!
You,
Tortenssen, who Griffenfeld with impudent audacity
Appointed our Physicianwhy, that gift is ratified
With promised rank of Baronin that dignified capacity
He's warranted in claiming pretty Thora as his bride.
And Harold, gallant Corporal, who a with spite oppressional,
Was made to twist and turn about like balletgirl professional,
Dispensing with the many intermediate steps progressional,
A Colonel he's created at one mighty giant stride!
A Colonel he's created at one mighty giant stride!
Upon my word, we're truly gratified,
To justify your choice will be their pride;
For we think you've chosen rightly,
And we thank you most politely,
For upon my word, we're truly gratified.
And

now for Gov'nor Griffenfeldwe highly to extol you meant,
But, finding you're addicted to discreditable pranks,
We strip you of your dignity, position, and emolument,
And name Mats Munck as Governorwe don't want any thanks.
And, as in these proceedings we are banded all in unity,
I think we couldn't find a more convenient opportunity
Of proving that imposture can't be practised with impunity.
For all your impositions you're degraded in the ranks!
For all your impositions you're degraded in the ranks!

Assuredly there's nothing to be said,
He's lucky in escaping with his head!
He loses all his payment,
And his most expensive raiment,
And he'll take his turn at sentrygo instead!

Karaoke version compiled by Colin Johnson

No. 13 - Opening Chorus and Scene - Act II
Soft karaoke
Words
Christina
Nanna
Thora
Dame Hecla
Griffenfeld
Erling / Regent
Tortenssen
Mats Munck
Harold
Sopranos
Contraltos
Tenors
Basses
Right Hand
Left Hand
Karaoke Track