The Kings' Barcarolle lyrics
The Kings' Barcarolle
CHARLES EDWARD
I do hereby make a motion
In hopes of your approval
That after our removal
From this most unpleasant ocean
We all say farewell
To vanity and strife
And in some dale
Pursue the Simple Life.
CANDIDE
What a royal, royal notion!
HERMANN AUGUSTUS
I second Charles's motion.
CHARLES EDWARD
I thank you, noble Prussian.
PANGLOSS
Let us open the discussion.
SULTAN ACHMET
Yo-ho!
PANGLOSS
Sh!
TSAR IVAN
Charles Edward's plan appeals to me.
What good are pomp and riches?
Let's wash our hands of luxury
In irrigation ditches.
I'm sick of plot and counterplot;
They never fail to thicken.
Let's find a humble rustic spot,
And cultivate the chicken.
CANDIDE
Ah, what pregnant observations!
IVAN
I thank you for your patience.
HERMANN
Point of order, Mr. Chairman.
PANGLOSS
The floor is yours, King Hermann.
ACHMET
Yo-ho!
STANISLAUS
Ugh. Ugh.
PANGLOSS
Sh!
HERMANN
We kings live so unpleasantly;
Our lives are hard and lonely.
Let's form a happy peasantry
For former monarchs only.
I'll trade my kingdom for a hoe,
My scepter for a shovel,
And make the red, red roses grow
Around our happy hovel.
CANDIDE
What a very sweet suggestion!
CHARLES EDWARD
I hereby move the question.
IVAN
I second Charles's move, sirs.
PANGLOSS
Say "Aye" if you approve, sirs.
ACHMET
Yo-ho!
CHARLES EDWARD, HERMANN, IVAN,CANDIDE, PANGLOSS
Aye!
STANISLAUS
Ugh!
ALL except STANISLAUS
We have passed Charles Edward's motion,
And now if we can manage
Without excessive damage
The motion of this ocean,
We'll all say farewell
To vanity and strife
And in some dale
Pursue the Simple Life.
KINGS
Yo-ho for the Simple Life.
CANDIDE, PANGLOSS
Yo-ho.
STANISLAUS
Ugh. Ugh.
Last Update: June, 10th 2013