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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This enchanting song from Florodora was written and composed by Paul Rubens¹, who was initially engaged as one of the team to write the lyrics for the show. However, when the famous star soprano/comedienne, Ada Reeve was persuaded to join the cast, a part was written specially for her, and Paul was asked to write a song for her to perform. Paul, some years younger than Leslie, was keen to oblige and the result was a hit. The number appeared in a prime position just before the finale of the second and final act.

The music is typically gentle but the harmonies are a little more adventurous than others in the programme (listen carefully and you'll hear what we mean). Of course Ada performed it spectacularly and it stole the show on a regular basis.

I've an Inkling
(Brief Introduction)

Now I've met, in my time, some curious men - 
Some nice - some fair - some dark;
I have met quite a handsome one now and then,
But still not quite up to the mark.
Now a husband I've managed at last to find,
Who is neither too young nor too old;
He's intensely amusing - 
Not quite refined,
But a man with a heart of gold.

Refrain: Now I'm bound to say,
In a kind of way,
You have an inkling, inkling, inkling . . .
That it's not his heart,
But the golden part
Of which I'm thinking, thinking, thinking.
(Brief Interlude)

There was one particular man I knew,
Whose name of course I shan't tell,
He had been divorc'd - was a bankrupt too,
Well, in fact, he was rather a swell.
Now one day we went to a play somewhere,
And afterwards on to tea,
When a lady close by . .began to stare
And I thought that, perhaps she knew me

Refrain: Now I'm bound to say,
In a kind of way,
I had an inkling, inkling, inkling . . .
For my friend turn'd red
When she bow'd her head
And started winkling, winkling, winkling.
(Brief Interlude)

There was one little man I used to know,
With a stock of repartee;
But his stories were not quite comme-il-faut² - 
So they didn't appeal to me.
There was one little rhyme which he thought was new,
And he asked if I'd heard it before;
When he started to tell me,
I said "That'll do - 
I don't want to hear any more."

Refrain: Now I'm bound to say,
In a kind of way,
I had an inkling, inkling, inkling . . .
That I'd read that verse - 
Only rather worse,
In the Pinkling, Pinkling, Pinkling³.

Hope you enjoyed our MusicSmiles arrangement of this jolly little ditty from Paul's pen. It's also very danceable if you've a mind  . . . It's a song with a built in movement factor (and a parasol perhaps?),

And finally we meet A Military Man . . .!

2.    Footnote: As I like them (a bit on the fabricated side!) French language experts please feel free to advise us. Return to story. 

3.    Footnote: We seem to remember something like a 'Pink-un' being a London newspaper during the period. (An early Victorian version of a tabloid?) News Buffs please comment.  Return to story.

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