Chorus: (all sailors, female relatives, Ralph, Josephine)
Carefully on tiptoe stealing, breathing gently as we may, every step with caution feeling, we will softly steal away.
Captain: (stamps) (chord)
Chorus: Goodness me — Why what was that?
Dick: Silent be, it was the cat.
Chorus: It was – it was the cat.
Captain: (whispered) They’re right, it was the cat!
Chorus:
Pull ashore in fashion steady, Hymen will defray the fare, for a clergyman is ready, to unite the happy pair!
Captain: (stamps) (chord)
Chorus: Goodness me, why, what was that?
Dick: Silent be, again the cat!
Chorus: It was again that cat!
Captain: (whispered) They’re right, it was the cat!
Chorus: Every step with caution feeling, we will softly steal away, every step with caution feeling, we will steal away!
Boatswain: He is an Englishman, for he himself hath said it, and it’s greatly to his credit, that he is an Englishman!
Chorus: That he is an Englishman!
Boatswain: For he might have been a Roosian, A French, or Turk, or Proosian, or perhaps I-ta-li-an!
Chorus: Or perhaps I-ta-li-an!
Boatswain: But in spite of all temptations, to belong to other nations, he remains an Englishman! He remains an Englishman.
Chorus: But in spite of all temptations, to belong to other nations, he remains an Englishman, he remains an Englishman.
Buttercup:
A many years ago, when I was young and charming, as some of you may know, I practiced baby-farming
Chorus:
Now this is most alarming! When she was young and charming, she practiced baby-farming, a many years ago.
Buttercup:
Two tender babes I nursed: one was of low condition, the other upper crust, a regular patrician.
Chorus: (explaining)
Now this is the position: one was of low condition, the other a patrician, a many years ago.
Buttercup:
Oh, bitter is my cup! However could I do it? I mixed those children up, and not a creature knew it.
Chorus: However could you do it? Some day, no doubt, you’ll rue it, although no creature knew it, so many years ago.
Buttercup:
In time each little waif forsook his foster-mother, the well born babe was Ralph – your captain was the other!
Chorus: They left their foster-mother, the one was Ralph, our brother, our captain was the other, a many years ago.
Captain: For he’s the Captain of the Pinafore
Chorus: (Ralph, Josephine, Female Relatives, Sailors, Sir Joseph, Buttercup) And a right good captain too!
Captain: And though before my fall I was captain of you all, now I’m a member of the crew.
Chorus: And though before his fall he was captain of us all, now he’s a member of the crew.
Chorus + Captain: Then give three cheers and one cheer more for the former Captain of the Pinafore, then give three cheers and one cheer more for the Captain of the Pinafore!
Buttercup: For I’m called Little Buttercup, dear Little Buttercup, though I could never tell why; but still I’m called Buttercup, poor Little Buttercup, Sweet Little Buttercup, aye!
Chorus: (Ralph, Josephine, Female Relatives, Sailors, Captain, Sir Joseph)
For she’s called Little Buttercup, dear Little Buttercup, though she could never tell why; but still she’s called Buttercup, poor Little Buttercup, Sweet Little Buttercup, aye!
Sir Joseph: I am the Monarch of the Sea, and when I’ve married thee, I’ll be true to the devotion that my love implants.
Hebe: Then good-bye to his sisters and his cousins and his aunts, especially his cousins whom he reckons up by dozens, and his aunts!
Chorus: (all characters)
For he is an Englishman, and he himself hath said it, and it’s greatly to his credit, that he is an Englishman, that he is an Englishman.
