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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Don't you get the strong impression of a lament at the start of this piece? But, both Sullivan and Gilbert demonstrated their sense of fun in allocating the song¹ to Julia, the comedienne in the show. The sadness, therefore, may be hidden under the clown's smile! And, like both her creators, she comes up supremely optimistic towards the end.

The music seems to reflect all Arthur's kidney pains, and joys. It ruminates on William's arguments and quarrels, and reconciliations. And it ponders Richard's memories of carpet quarrels and battles to keep his two protégés on the straight and narrow, and his tremendous successes with them both.

It is a remarkable musical item, with its changes in time between simple and compound duple; and that wonderful key change from G major to G flat major. We hope you think its wistful reminiscences and sunny forecast are worth including in our story. And we don't often get the chance to hear it, do we? 

So, feel free to have a last tear and a smile, and sing along with our three great geniuses . . .

So Ends My Dream

Recit: So ends my dream
So fades my vision fair!
Of hope no gleam - 
Distraction and despair!
My cherish'd dreams, the Ducal throne to share,
That aim supreme has faded into air!
 - - - - - -
All is darksome - 
All is dreary - 
Broken ev'ry promise plighted - 
Sad and sorry - 
Weak and weary - 
Ev'ry new-born hope is blighted!
Death the Friend or Death the Foe,
Shall I call upon thee? No!
I will go on living, living,
Tho' sa . .d and sor . .ry weak and weary!
Death the Friend or Death the Foe,
Shall I call upon thee? No!
I will go on living, living,
Sad and sorry - weary and weak!
Sad and sorry
Weak and weary!
Sad and sorry - weak and weary!
I . . will go on living, Tho' . . sad and sorry - 
Sad and sor . .ry!
Sad and sorry - weak and wea . .(. .) ry!
- - - - - -
No, no! . . .
No, no! . . .
No, no . . . .!
No, no!
Ah ^^^^^^^^^^^!

No, no! Let the by-gone go by!
For no good ever came of repining:
If today there are clouds o'er the sky,
Yet tomorrow the sun may be shining!
Tomorrow be kind,
Tomorrow, to me!
With loyalty blind
I bow me to thee!
Tomorrow, . . be kind,
Tomorrow, . . to me!
With loyalty bli . .nd I bo . .w me t . .o thee!

Today is a day of illusion and sorrow,
So viva tomor . .row!
God save you  . .Tomorrow!
Your servant, . .Tomorrow!
God save you  . .Tomorrow!
Your servant, . .Tomorrow!
God save you  . .Tomorrow!
Your servant, . .Tomorrow!
God save you  . .Tomorrow!
Your ser . .vant, . .Tomorrow!
Your ser . .vant, (. .) Tomorrow!

Would you now like to visit  Cox and Box . . .?

1.    Footnote: For further details of this song see Binney and Lavender in our MusicSmiles biography. Return to story.

Foot-Footnote: We have included snatches of Arthur's two favourite instruments (piano and organ) in the accompaniment. Can you spot them?

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