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SAILORS: Carefully on tiptoe stealing,
Breathing gently as we may,
Every step with caution feeling,
We will softly steal away.
Goodness me--
Why, what was that?
DICK: Silent be,
It was the cat!
SAILORS: It was, it was the cat!
CAPT.: They're right, it was the cat!
SAILORS: Pull ashore in fashion steady,
Hymen will defray the fare,
For a clergyman is ready
To unite the happy pair!
Goodness me,
Why, what was that?
DICK: Silent be,
Again the cat!
SAILORS: It was again that cat!
CAPT.: They're right, it was the cat!
JOS., RALPH, DICK & CAPT.: Ev'ry step with caution feeling,
We will softly steal away,
Ev'ry step with caution feeling,
We will softly steal away.

CAPT.: Hold!
Pretty daughter of mine,
I insist upon knowing
Where you may be going
With these sons of the brine.
For my excellent crew,
Though foes they could thump any,
Are scarcely fit company,
My daughter, for you.
SAILORS: Now, hark at that, do!
Though foes we could thump any,
We're scarcely fit company
For a lady like you!
RALPH: Proud officer, that haughty lip uncurl!
Vain man, suppress that supercilious sneer,
For I have dared to love your matchless girl,
A fact well known to all my messmates here!
CAPT.: Oh, horror!
JOS. & RALPH: He/I, humble, poor, and lowly born,
The meanest in the port division,
The butt of epauletted scorn
The mark of quarterdeck derision,
Has/Have dared to raise his/my wormy eyes
Above the dust to which you'd mould him/me,
In manhood's glorious pride to rise,
He/I is/am an Englishman, behold him/me!
CHORUS: He is an Englishman!
BOATSWAIN: He is an Englishman!
For he himself has said it,
And it's greatly to his credit,
That he is an Englishman!
CHORUS: That he is an Englishman!
BOAT.: For he might have been a Roosian,
A French, or Turk, or Proosian,
Or perhaps Italian!
CHORUS: Or perhaps Italian!
BOAT. But in spite of all temptations
To belong to other nations,
He remains an Englishman!
He remains an Englishman!
CHORUS: For in spite of all temptations
To belong to other nations,
He remains an Englishman!
He remains an Englishman!
CAPT.: In uttering a reprobation
To any British tar,
I try to speak with moderation,
But you have gone too far.
I'm very sorry to disparage
A humble foremast lad,
But to seek your captain's child in marriage,
Why, damme, it's too bad!
ALL: Oh!
CAPT.: Yes, damme, it's too bad!
ALL: Oh!
CAPT. & DICK:Yes, damme, it's too bad!
HEBE: Did you hear him,
Did you hear him?
Oh, the monster overbearing!
Don't go near him,
Don't go near him,
He is swearing,
He is swearing!
SIR J.: My pain and my distress,
I find it is not easy to express;
My amazement, my surprise,
You may learn from the expression of my eyes!
CAPT.: My lord, one word, the facts are not before you
The word was injudicious, I allow.
But hear my explanation, I implore you,
And you will be indignant too, I vow!
SIR J.: I will hear of no defence,
Attempt none if you're sensible.
That word of evil sense,
Is wholly indefensible.
Go, ribald, get you hence
To your cabin with celerity.
This is the consequence
Of illadvised asperity!
ALL.: This is the consequence
Of illadvised asperity!
SIR J.: For I'll teach you all, ere long,
To refrain from language strong,
For I haven't any sympathy for illbred taunts!
HEBE: No more have his sisters, nor his cousins, nor his aunts.
ALL: No more have his sisters, nor his cousins, nor his aunts,
No more have his sisters, nor his cousins, nor his aunts,
His sisters, nor his cousins,
Whom he reckons up by dozens, or his aunts!
For he is an Englishman!
For he himself has said it,
And it's greatly to his credit,
That he is an Englishman!
That he is an Englishman!

Vocal Line

By Arthur Sullivan
Generated by NoteWorthy Composer

Pinafore No. 18
Lyrics
Josephine
Hebe
Ralph
Bo's'n/Sir J.
Captain C.
Deadeye
Sopranos
Altos
Tenors
Basses
Right Hand
Left Hand
Tempo