W.S. Gilbert - A Wand'ring Minstrel I lyrics

[NANKI-POO] A wandering minstrel I — A thing of shreds and patches Of ballads, songs and snatches And dreamy lullaby! My catalogue is long Through every pa**ion ranging And to your humours changing I tune my supple song! I tune my supple song! Are you in sentimental mood? I'll sigh with you Oh, sorrow, sorrow! On maiden's coldness do you brood? I'll do so, too — Oh, sorrow, sorrow! I'll charm your willing ears With songs of lovers' fears While sympathetic tears My cheeks bedew — Oh, sorrow, sorrow! But if patriotic sentiment is wanted I've patriotic ballads cut and dried; For where'er our country's banner may be planted All other local banners are defied! Our warriors, in serried ranks a**embled Never quail — or they conceal it if they do — And I shouldn't be surprised if nations trembled Before the mighty troops of Titipu! [Chorus] We shouldn't be surprised if nations trembled Trembled with alarm Before the mighty troops The troops of Titipu! [NANKI-POO] And if you call for a song of the sea We'll heave the capstan round With a yeo heave ho, for the wind is free Her anchor's a-trip and her helm's a-lee Hurrah for the homeward bound! [Chorus] Yeo-ho — heave ho — Hurrah for the homeward bound! [NANKI-POO] To lay aloft in a howling breeze May tickle a landsman's taste But the happiest hour a sailor sees Is when he's down At an inland town With his Nancy on his knees, yeo ho! And his arm around her waist! [Chorus] Then man the capstan — off we go As the fiddler swings us round With a yeo heave ho And a rum below Hurrah for the homeward bound! With a yeo heave ho And a rum below Yeo-ho, heave ho Yeo-ho, heave ho Heave ho, heave ho, yeo-ho! [NANKI-POO] A wandering minstrel I — A thing of shreds and patches Of ballads, songs and snatches And dreamy lullaby! [Chorus] And dreamy lulla-lullaby Of dreamy lullaby Lullaby! Lullaby! [PISH-TUSH, spoken] And what may be your business with Yum-Yum? [NANKI-POO, spoken] I'll tell you. A year ago I was a member of the Titipu town band. It was my duty to take the cap round for contributions. While discharging this delicate office, I saw Yum-Yum. We loved each other at once, but she was betrothed to her guardian Ko-Ko, a cheap tailor, and I saw at once that my suit was hopeless. Overwhelmed with despair, I quitted the town. Judge of my delight when I heard, a month ago that Ko-Ko had been condemned to d**h for flirting! I hurried back at once, in hope of finding Yum-Yum at liberty to listen to my protestations [PISH-TUSH, spoken] It is true that Ko-Ko was condemned to d**h for flirting, but he was reprieved at the last moment, and raised to the exalted rank of Lord High Executioner under the following remarkable circumstances: