"Society
has quite forsaken all her wicked courses" is from the G&S operetta Utopia,
Limited. It is a solo with mini-chorus by King Paramount and the Flowers of
Progress (Six imported 'experts' from England).
He
is interrupted in the song by these 'Flowers', who interject responses
throughout. Feel free to join them (King and Flowers) .
. .
Societies'
Wicked Courses
-----Intro------
King (solo): Society
has quite forsaken
All her wicked courses,
Which empties our police courts,
And abolishes divorces.
Flowers (unison): Divorce
is nearly obsolete in England.
King: No
tolerance we show
To undeserving rank and splendour:
For-the higher his position is,
The greater the offender.
Flowers: That's-a
maxim that is prevalent in England.
King: No
peeress at our Drawing Room
Before the Presence passes
Who wouldn't be accepted
By the lower middle classes.
Each shady dame, whatever be
Her rank, is bow'd out neatly.
Flowers: In
short this happy country
Has been Anglicised completely,
completely, completely! . . .
-----Careful, Double time!------
Flowers (harmony): It
really is surprising
What a thorough Anglicising
We have brought about -
Utopia's quite a-no-ther land;
In her enterprising movements,
She is England with improvements,
Which we dutifully offer to our mo-ther-land!
-----Short Interlude------
King: Our
city we have beautified -
We've done it willy nilly -
And all that isn't Belgrave Square
Is Strand and Piccadilly.
Flowers: We
haven't any slummeries in England!
King: We've
solved the labour question
With discrimination polished,
So poverty is obsolete
And hunger is abolished -
Flowers: We-are
going to abolish it in England.
King: The
Chamberlain our native stage
Has purged, beyond a question,
Of "risky" situation
And indelicate suggestion;
No piece is tolerated
If it's costumed indiscreetly -
Flowers: In
short this happy country
Has been Anglicised completely,
completely, completely! . . .
-----Double time again!------
Flowers (harmony): It
really is surprising
What a thorough Anglicising
We have brought about -
Utopia's quite a-no-ther land;
In her enterprising movements,
She is England with improvements,
Which we dutifully offer to our mo-ther-land!
-----Short Interlude------
King: Our
Peerage we've re-modelled
On an intellectual basis,
Which certainly is rough
On our hereditary races -
Flowers: We're
going to re-model it in England.
King: The
Brewers and the Cotton Lords
No longer seek admission,
And Literary Merit meets
With proper recognition -
Flowers: As
Literary Merit does in England.
King: Who
knows but we may count
Among our intellectual chickens
Like you, an Earl of Thackeray
And p'r'aps a Duke of Dickens -
Lord Fildes and Viscount Millais
(when-they come) we'll welcome sweetly -
Flowers: In
short this happy country
Has been Anglicised completely,
completely, completely! . . .
-----Last Double time!------
Flowers (harmony): It
really is surprising
What a thorough Anglicising
We have brought about -
Utopia's quite a-no-ther land;
In her enterprising movements,
She is England with improvements,
Which we dutifully offer to our mo-ther-land!
-----Full Tilt!------
All: It
really is surprising
What a thorough Anglicising
We have undergone -
Utopia's quite an-other land:
In her enterprising movements,
She is England with improvements,
Which we dutifully offer to our mo-ther-land!
Can't
you just imagine the scene - the 'Flowers of Progress', in their various colourful
forms of regalia, would be just like flowers! And the whole number begs us to
dance with them, doesn't it?
Or would you prefer to join in with William's
humorous (or near-the-truth?) words. It's full of foresight, and a very
courageous (foolish?) libretto, isn't it? Are you sure it was written
in the 19th Century?!!
Go on,
either way, have another go . . .!
OR
Return
to Utopia
Limited . . .?
