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HMS Pinafore: Never Mind the Why and Wherefore Lyrics

CAPT. Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore,
Though his lordship's station's mighty,
Though stupendous be his brain,
Though your tastes are mean and flighty
And your fortune poor and plain,
CAPT. and Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
SIR JOSEPH. Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!
CAPT. For a humble captain's daughter--
JOS. For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH. And a lord who rules the water--
JOS. (aside). And a tar who ploughs the water!
ALL. Let the air with joy be laden,
Rend with songs the air above,
For the union of a maiden
With the man who owns her love!
SIR JOSEPH. Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore,
Though your nautical relation (alluding to Capt.)
In my set could scarcely pass--
Though you occupy a station
In the lower middle class--
CAPT. and Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
SIR JOSEPH. Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of my/your lordship
With a humble captain's child!
CAPT. For a humble captain's daughter--
JOS. For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH. And a lord who rules the water--
JOS. (aside). And a tar who ploughs the water!
ALL. Let the air with joy be laden,
Rend with songs the air above,
For the union of a maiden
With the man who owns her love!
JOS. Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore
I admit the jurisdiction;
Ably have you played your part;
You have carried firm conviction
To my hesitating heart.
CAPT. and Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
SIR JOSEPH. Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of my/his lordship
With a humble captain's child!
CAPT. For a humble captain's daughter--
JOS. For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH. And a lord who rules the water--
JOS. (aside). And a tar who ploughs the water!
(Aloud.) Let the air with joy be laden.
CAPT. and SIR JOSEPH. Ring the merry bells on board-ship--
JOS. For the union of a maiden--
CAPT. and SIR JOSEPH. For her union with his lordship.
ALL. Rend with songs the air above
For the man who owns her love!
Report lyrics
A Gilbert and Sullivan Gala (Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra feat. conductor: Bramwell Tovey) (1994)
Iolanthe: Overture The Yeomen of the Guard: "I have a song to sing O!" H.M.S. Pinafore: "The hours creep on apace" H.M.S. Pinafore: "Never mind the why and wherefore" H.M.S. Pinafore: "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" [dialogue] The Gondoliers: "In a contemplative fashion" The Pirates of Penzance: "All is prepared" The Pirates of Penzance: "Stay, Frederic, stay" Iolanthe: "Love, unrequited, robs me of my rest" The Mikado: "Three little maids" Trial by Jury: Finale "O joy unbounded" [dialogue] Iolanthe: "O foolish fay" The Pirates of Penzance: "Stop, ladies pray!" The Pirates of Penzance: "O is there not one maiden breast?" The Pirates of Penzance: "Poor wand'ring one" [dialogue] The Mikado: "As some day it may happen" The Mikado: "The flowers that bloom in the spring" The Mikado: "Alone and yet alive!" The Mikado: "On a tree by a river a little tom-tit" The Mikado: "There is beauty in the bellow of the blast" The Mikado: "For he's gone and married Yum-Yum" The Gondoliers: "Once more gondolieri"