Song Lyric of the Day (Gilbert and Sullivan, on ‘Little Errands for the Ministers of State’)

“Oh, philosophers may sing
Of the troubles of a King;
Yet the duties are delightful, and the privileges great;
But the privilege and pleasure
That we treasure beyond measure
Is to run on little errands for the Ministers of State.”— “Rising Early in the Morning," from The Gondoliers: or, The King of Barataria (1889), libretto by W.S. Gilbert (1836-1911), music by Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900)

The image accompanying this post shows Rutland Barrington and Courtice Pounds as Giuseppe and Marco, the title characters in the 1889 production of The Gondoliers. 

Times have changed greatly since then, but it seems like all over the world, there’s still no shortage of people ready to run “little errands for the Ministers of State.” Only they're called bureaucrats rather than gondoliers.

Song Lyric of the Day (W. S. Gilbert, in the Voice of a ‘Disagreeable Man’)

“I’m sure I’m no ascetic: I’m as pleasant as can be;

You’ll always find me ready with a crushing repartee;

I’ve an irritating chuckle; I’ve a celebrated sneer;

I’ve an entertaining snigger; I’ve a fascinating leer;

To everybody’s prejudice I know a thing or two;

I can tell a woman’s age in half a minute–and I do–

But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,

Yet everybody says I’m such a disagreeable man!

And I can’t think why!”— King Gama in “The Disagreeable Man,” from the operetta Princess Ida (1884), lyrics by W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911), music by Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900)

The photo accompanying this post shows actor John Reed, in costume as King Gama, in a 1965 D'Oyly Carte Opera Company production of Princess Ida.

Song Lyric of the Day (W.S. Gilbert, on the Rise of an English ‘Learned Judge’)

“At Westminster Hall I danced a dance,

    Like a semi-despondent fury;

For I thought I never should hit on a chance

    Of addressing a British Jury—

But I soon got tired of third-class journeys,

    And dinners of bread and water;

So I fell in love with a rich attorney's

    Elderly, ugly daughter….

“The rich attorney, he jumped with joy,

    And replied to my fond professions:

‘You shall reap the rewards of your pluck, my boy,

    At the Bailey and Middlesex sessions.

You'll soon get used to her looks,’ said he,

    ‘And a very nice girl you will find her!

 She may very well pass for forty-three

    In the dusk, with a light behind her!’"—English lyricist W.S. Gilbert (1836-1911), “When I, Good Friends, Was Called to the Bar,” in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Trial by Jury (1875)

(The image accompanying this post shows Frederic Sullivan, brother of Gilbert’s songwriting partner Arthur Sullivan, in the role of the “Learned Judge” in the original production of Trial by Jury.)

Quote of the Day (W.S. Gilbert, on the Problem With an ‘Unjust World’)

“I'm really very sorry for you all, but it's an unjust world, and virtue is triumphant only in theatrical performances.” —W.S. Gilbert, The Mikado (1885)