If You Want to Know Who We Are, by Gilbert & Sullivan

[the_gneech]

If you want to know who we are
we are gentlemen of Japan
On many a vase and jar
On many a screen and fan
We figure in lively paint
our attitude's queer and quaint
you're wrong if you think it ain't, Oh!

If you think we are worked by strings
like a Japanese marionette
you don't understand these things
it is simply court ettiquette
Perhaps you suppose this throng
can't keep it up all day long
if that's your idea you're wrong, Oh!

If that's your idea you're wrong...

If you want to know who we are
we are gentlemen of Japan
on vase and jar
on screen and fan
on many, many, many, many, many, many
many a jar, Oh!
On vase and jar
on screen and fan!

--Gilbert and Sullivan, The Mikado, or the Town of Titipu

When all else fails, Victorian light opera really satisfies. ;)

-The Gneech, callous and obdurate

Comments

[kelloggs2066.livejournal.com]

Ta-Ran-Ta-RA!

[chef-troy.livejournal.com]

I had the title role in a rather avant-garde production of The Mikado about nine years ago.

A more humane Mikado never did in Japan exist
To nobody second, I'm certainly reckoned a true philanthropist
It is my very humane endeavour to make, to some extent
Each evil liver a running river of harmless merriment

My object all sublime, I shall achieve in time...
To let the punishment fit the crime, the punishment fit the crime
And make each pris'ner pent unwillingly represent
A source of innocent merriment, of innocent merriment...

[paulcurtis.livejournal.com]

I think my favorite is Rudigore. I'm particularly fond of Sir Despard and Mad Meg.