This
jaunty little Act II song & dance routine from Florodora is full of fun.
Although Leslie Stuart took no risks with the score he matched the libretto with
musical life and vivacity. It has a lovely and memorable melody line, and some
merry harmonies in the accompaniment. Don't you feel your whole body swaying to
the rhythms?
In
a Musical absolutely packed with great hit songs, this stole the show, and
became a world-wide sensation. The boys and girls ensemble who played the six
men (Florodoran clerks) and six girls (English visitors) became huge
international stars overnight, singing and elegantly strolling their way around
the world, both within the show and in concert versions.
We have
tried to indicate the overlaps where Men's & Girls' lines move along
together, by using a left hand bracket - Give it a go, it's very easy really, after
a couple of runs at the song you'll soon crack it!
Tell
Me Pretty Maiden
(I Must Love Someone)
(8 bar Introduction)
Men: Tell
me pretty maiden,
Are there any more at home like you?
Girls: There are a few, kind sir,
But simple girls, and proper too.
Men: Then tell me pretty maiden,
What these very simple girlies do.
(Girls: Kind sir, their manners are perfection,
(Men: Then tell . . . me, maiden,
(Girls: And the opposite of mine. . . .
(Men: What the girlies . . do. . . .
Men: Then
take a little walk with me,
And then I can see
What a most particular girl
(should be
(Girls: I may
love you too well to let you go
And flirt with those at home, you know.
Men: Well, don't mind little girl,
You'll see I'll only want
(but you.
(Girls: It's not
quite fair to them
If you told them that you were
(Girls: true
Men: I won't
Care a pin for your sisters if you love
(Men: me
(Girls: What would you say
If I said I liked you well?
Men: I'd vow to you
Girls: On bended knee!
Men: On bended knee!
Girls: If
I loved you,
Would you tell me what I ought to do
To keep you all mine alone,
To always be true to me?
If I loved you,
Would it be a silly thing to do?
For I must love some one,
Men: Then why not me?
Girls: Yes, I must love some one, really,
And it might as well be you!
(Very short Interlude - 2 bars)
Girls: Tell
me, gentle stranger,
Are there any more at home like you?
Men: There are a few, sweet maid,
And hotter boys you never knew.
Girls: Then tell me gentle sir,
The things these very rakish fellows do:
Men: Dear maid,
(Girls: Then
(Men: they flirt with girls too freely,
(Girls: tell . . . . me, tell me
(Men: And it's not the same girl twice.
(Girls: What these fe . .llows do!
Then take me round and let them show,
For an hour or so,
How far such fellows can
rea(lly go!
(Men: I never
introduce them to a girl, I intend
To be my most particular friend.
Girls: I won't mind what they do -
No man . . would ever flirt
(with me.
(Men: It's not worth risking
it - I know with them you won't
(agree.
(Girls: I don't want
to know them, if you will do the
flirting
(Men: Of course
I will try, for we're doing very well.
Girls: I'll vow to you -
Men: On bended knee -
Girls On bended knee -
Girls If
I loved you,
Would you tell me what I ought to do
To keep you all mine alone,
To always be true to me?
If I loved you,
Would it be a silly thing to do?
For I must love some one,
Men: Then why not me?
Girls: Yes, I must love some one, really.
And it might as well be you!
(8 bars of dance to go off stage)
(One couple off left, next off right . . . Last couple to give a cheeky wink to audience,
do you think?)
This
song & dance item can easily be adapted for one couple, so don't be put off
by the double sextet. Hope you enjoyed our MusicSmiles
arrangement of Leslie's number one hit, and that you joined in with a suave
vigour! If you don't feel like dancing, don't worry, just enjoy the music (but
have a go at singing along).
So,
does this lead to the Silver
Star of Love . . .?
