This
snippet is from 'Trial BY Jury'. Gilbert was on his own (legal) ground here. The Learned
Judge is having fun trying a case of Breach of Promise. The bride is
accompanied by her giggle of bridesmaids (my description). (Students of English are
encouraged to advise us of a suitable collective noun - A Cuddle of Bridesmaids
maybe . .?
Discuss!).
Imagine the scene!
Have a Go and
join in with us . . .
The Judge's Song
Judge: When I, good
friends, was called to the Bar,
I'd an appetite fresh and hearty,
But I was, as many young barristers are,
An impecunious party.
I'd a swallow-tail coat of a beautiful blue-
A brief which I bought of a booby-
A couple of shirts and a collar or two,
And a ring that looked like a ruby!
Chorus:
A couple of shirts and a collar or two,
And a ring that looked like a ruby!
Judge: In Westminster
Hall I danced a dance,
Like a semi-despondent fury;
For I thought I never would 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.
Chorus: So
he fell in love with a rich attorney's
Elderly, ugly daughter.
Judge: The rich
attorney, he jumped with joy,
And replied to my fond professions:
"You shall reap the reward 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'll find her!
She may very well pass for forty-three
In the dusk, with a light behind her!"
Chorus: She
may very well pass for forty-three
In the dusk, with a light behind her!"
Judge: The rich attorney
was good as his word;
The briefs came trooping gaily,
And ev'ry day my voice was heard,
At the Sessions or Ancient Bailey.
All thieves who could my fees afford,
Relied on my orations,
And many a burglar I've restored
To his friends and his relations!
Chorus: And
many a burglar he's restored
To his friends and his relations!
Judge: At length I
became as rich as the Gurneys-
An incubus then I thought her;
So I threw over that rich attorney's
Elderly, ugly daughter!
The rich attorney my character high
tried vainly to disparage-
And now, if you please, I'm ready to try
This breach of promise of marriage!
Chorus: And
now, if you please, he's ready to try
This breach of promise of marriage!
Judge: For
now I'm a Judge!
Chorus: And
a good Judge too!
Judge: For
now I'm a Judge!
Chorus: And
a good Judge too!
Judge: Though
all my law be fudge,
Yet I'll never, never budge,
But I'll live and die a Judge!
Chorus: And
a good Judge too!
Judge: It
was managed by a job -
Chorus: And
a good job too!
Judge: It was
managed by a job!
Chorus: And
a good job too!
Judge: It is
patent to the mob,
That my being made a nob
Was effected by a job.
Judge & Chorus: And
a good job . . too . .!
Hope
you enjoyed having a jolly good sing to our MusicSmiles
arrangement of this evergreen from the First (well nearly first 1) G&S stable!
Don't
worry if you didn't get the timing right first time, it does take a bit of
working out (and it may help to have the score to hand!) It really is a lot of
fun though, isn't it?
One
More Time . . .?
And next,
Angelina's I
Love Him . . .
Footnote 1: See our page on G&S
operas. Return
to story.
