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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This splendid mock march by Jacques Offenbach is from his operetta 'Genevieve de Brabant', words by H B Farnie. The humour in it is universal, and has stood the test of time, despite its variance to modern life! It is still a firm favourite of concert audiences, and artists alike. Imagine two unlikely policemen chatting over the day's tasks.

We have written out the two parts (tenor & baritone - which is irrelevant) using two woodwind instruments. You'll recognise them - in alternate lines below (the last two lines sung together)!

Enjoy it and join in with us . . .

Gendarmes Duet

We're public guardians, bold yet wary,
And of ourselves we take good care!
To risk our precious lives we're chary,
When danger looms we're never there!
But when we meet a helpless woman,
Or little boys that do no harm,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We show them we're the bold gendarmes!
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We show them we're the bold gendarmes!

Sometimes our duty's extra-mural,
Then little butterflies we chase,
We like to gambol in things rural,
Commune with nature face to face!
Unto our beat then back returning,
Refreshed by nature's holy charm,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We show them we're the bold gendarmes!
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We show them we're the bold gendarmes!

If gentlemen will make a riot,
And punch each other's heads at night,
We're quite dispos'd to keep it quiet,
Provided that they make it right!
But if they do not seem to see it,
Or give to us our proper terms!
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We show them we're the bold gendarmes!
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We run them in,
We show them we're the bold gendarmes!

Now for the famous Barcarolle . . .?

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