Sequenced by Colin Johnson

[Bridesmaids] Hail the bride of seventeen summers:
In fair phrases
Hymn her praises;
Lift your song on high, all comers.
She rejoices
In your voices.
Smiling summer beams upon her,
Shedding every blessing on her:
Maidens greet her,
Kindly treat her,
You may all be brides some day!

[Men] Hail the bridegroom who advances,
Agitated,
Yet elated.
He's in easy circumstances,
Young and lusty,
True and trusty.

[All] Smiling summer beams upon her,
Shedding every blessing on her:
Maidens greet her,
Kindly treat her,
You may all, may all be brides some day!

[Rose] When the buds are blossoming,
Smiling welcome to the spring,
Lovers choose a wedding day;
Life is love in merry May!
Life is love,
Life is love in merry May!

[Sops.] Spring is green:

[Quartet] Fa la la la la la la la!

[Sops.] Summer's rose.

[Quartet] Fa la la la la la la la!
It is sad when summer goes,
Fa la la la la la!
Fa la!

[Tenors] Autumn's gold:

[Quartet] Fa la la la la la la la!

[Tenors] Winter's grey.

[Quartet] Fa la la la la la la la!
Winter still is far away,
far away.
Fa la la la la!

[Richard] Fa la la la la la!

[Chorus] Leaves in autumn fade and fall,
Winter is the end of all.
Spring and summer teem with glee:
Spring and summer, then, for me!
Fa la la la la la la la la la!
Fa la!
la la la la la la!
Fa la la la la la la la la la!

[Hannah] In the spring time seed is sown:
In the summer grass is mown:
In the autumn you may reap:
Winter is the time for sleep.
Winter is the time for sleep.

[Sops.] Spring is hope:
[Quartet] Fa la la la la la la la!

[Sops.] Summer's joy.

[Quartet] Fa la la la la la la la!
Spring and summer never cloy,
Fa la la la la la!
Fa la!

[Tenors] Autumn, toil:

[Quartet] Fa la la la la la la la!

[Tenors] Winter, rest.

[Quartet] Fa la la la la la la la!
Winter after all is best,
after all.
Fa la la la la!

[Richard] Fa la la la la la!

[Chorus] Spring and summer pleasure you,
Autumn, aye, and winter too;
Every season has its cheer,
Life is lovely all the year!
Fa la la la la la la la la la!
Fa la!
Fa la la la la!
Fa la la la la la la la!

[Despard] Hold, bride and bridegroom, ere you wed each other,
I claim young Robin as my elder brother!
His rightful title I have long enjoyed:
I claim him as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd!

[Chorus] O wonder!

[Rose] Deny the falsehood, Robin, as you should,
It is a plot!

[Robin] I would, if conscientiously I could,
But I cannot!

[Chorus] Ah, base one! Ah, base one!

[Robin] As pure and blameless peasant,
I cannot, I regret,
Deny a truth unpleasant,
I am that Baronet!

[Chorus] He is that Baronet!

But when completely rated
Bad Baronet am I,
That I am what he's stated
I'll recklessly deny!

[Chorus] He'll recklessly deny!

[Robin] When I'm a bad Bart. I will tell taradiddles!
[Chorus] He'll tell taradiddles when he's a bad Bart.
[Robin] I'll play a bad part on the falsest of fiddles.
[Chorus] On very false fiddles he'll play a bad part!
[Robin] But until that takes place I must be conscientious
[Chorus] He'll be conscientious until that takes place.
[Robin] Then adieu with good grace to my morals sententious!
[Chorus] To morals sententious adieu with good grace!
Adieu with good grace to his morals, his morals sententious.

[Robin & Ch.] When I'm/he's a bad Bart. I/he will tell taradiddles!
On very false fiddles I'll/he'll play a bad part!
I'll/He'll play a bad part on the falsest of fiddles.
And tell taradiddles when I'm/he's a bad Bart.

[Chorus] When he's a bad Bart. he will tell taradiddles!
On very false fiddles he'll play a bad part!
He'll play a bad part on the falsest of fiddles.
And tell taradiddles when he's a bad Bart.
A bad Bart.
When he's a bad Bart. he will tell taradiddles!
A bad Bart.
On very false fiddles,
On very false fiddles he'll play a bad part!

[Zorah] Who is the wretch who hath betrayed thee?
Let him stand forth!

[Richard] 'Twas I!

[Chorus] Die, traitor!

[Richard] Hold! my conscience made me!
Withhold your wrath!

Within this breast there beats a heart
Whose voice can't be gainsaid.
It bade me thy true rank impart,
And I at once obeyed.
I knew 'twould blight thy budding fate;
I knew 'twould cause thee anguish great;
But did I therefore hesitate?
No! I at once obeyed!

[Chorus] Acclaim him who, when his true heart
Bade him young Robin's rank impart,
Immediately obeyed!

[Rose] Farewell!
Thou hadst my heart:
'Twas quickly won!
But now we part:
Thy face I shun!
Farewell!

Go bend the knee
At Vice's shrine,
Of life with me
All hope resign.
Farewell! Farewell! Farewell!
Take me, I am thy bride!

[Bridesmaids] Hail the Bridegroom, hail the Bride!
When the nuptial knot is tied;
Every day will bring some joy
That can never, never cloy!

[Despard] Excuse me, I'm a virtuous person now:

[Rose] That's why I wed you!

[Despard] And I to Margaret must keep my vow!

[Margaret] Have I misread you?
Oh, joy! with newly kindled rapture warmed,
I kneel before you!

[Despard] I once disliked you; now that I've reformed,
How I adore you!

[Bridesmaids] Hail the Bridegroom, hail the Bride!
When the nuptial knot is tied;
Every day will bring some joy
That can never, never cloy!

[Rose.] Richard, of him I love bereft,
Through thy design,
Thou art the only one that's left,
So I am thine!

[Bridesmaids] Hail the Bridegroom, hail the Bride!
Hail the Bridegroom, hail the Bride!

[Rose & Rich.] Oh, happy the lily
When kissed by the bee;
And, sipping tranquilly,
Quite happy is he;
And happy the filly
That neighs in her pride;
But happier than any,
A pound to a penny,
A lover is, when he
Embraces his bride!

[Marg. & Desp.] Oh, happy the flowers
That blossom in June,
And happy the bowers
That gain by the boon,
But happier by hours
The man of descent,
Who, folly regretting,
Is bent on forgetting
His bad baronetting,
And means to repent!

[Zor., Han. & Adam] Oh, happy the blossom
That blooms on the lea,
Likewise the opossum
That sits on a tree,
When you come across 'em,
They cannot compare
With those who are treading
The dance at a wedding,
While people are spreading
The best of good fare!

[Robin] Oh, wretched the debtor
Who's signing a deed!
And wretched the letter
That no one can read!
But very much better
Their lot it must be
Than that of the person
I'm making this verse on,
Whose head there's a curse on,
Alluding to me!

[Chorus] Oh, happy the lily
When kissed by the bee;
And, sipping tranquilly,
Quite happy is he;
And happy the filly
That neighs in her pride;
But happier than any,
A pound to a penny,
A lover is, when he
Embraces his bride!
Embraces his bride!
Embraces his bride!

By Arthur Sullivan
Generated by NoteWorthy Composer

No15 - Finale - Act I
Lyrics
Rose / Zorah
Margaret
Dame Hannah
Richard
Adam
Robin
Sir Despard
Sopranos
Contraltos
Tenors
Basses
Right Hand
Left Hand