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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This was an 1880s pop song of the first order. Queen of My Heart was not only the most popular song in the show Dorothy, but became a household hit in its own right. No self-respecting baritone of the time would consider leaving it out of his repertoire. It sold thousands of copies used for singing round the piano. And there is evidence¹ of perhaps several different arrangements (one being a waltz).

We have used Sherwood's ballad in the  original Vocal Score as a basis for our MusicSmiles' arrangement. Do you detect the influence of Will' Shakespeare - a touch of that universal story, Romeo and Juliet, perhaps? Hope you like it. Don't leave it all to the baritones though - feel free to have a go! 

Queen of My Heart

I stand at your threshold, sighing,
As the cruel hours creep by;
And the time is slowly dying,
That once too quick did fly.
Your beauty o'er my being,
Has shed a subtle spell;
And alas! there is no fleeing
From the charms you wield so well.
For my heart is wildly beating,
As it never beat before.
One word! one whispered greeting
In mercy I implore.

For from daylight a hint we might borrow,
And prudence might come with the light.
Then why should we wait till tomorrow?
You are queen of my heart tonight!
From daylight a hint we might borrow,
And prudence might come with the light.
Then why should we wait till tomorrow?
You are queen of my heart tonight!

Oh! tell me why, if you intended,
Thus to treat my love with scorn.
Such rents as will never be mended
In this poor heart you've torn!
Why? why did your beauty enslave me?
And give me such exquisite pain.
Oh! say but the word that would save me,
And bid me hope again.
For my heart is wildly beating,
As it never beat before.
One word! one whispered greeting
In mercy I implore.

For from daylight a hint we might borrow,
And prudence might come with the light.
Then why should we wait till tomorrow?
You are queen of my heart tonight!
From daylight a hint we might borrow,
And prudence might come with the light;
Then why should we wait till tomorrow?
You are queen of my heart tonight!

Listen! is it possible that there is a Morris Dancing team performing in the background? 

To proceed Click:  The Time Has Come.

1.    Footnote: For further details see that superb book about Musicals p53 by Kurt Gänzl in the MusicSmiles bibliography. Return to Story

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