Gilbert & Sullivan The Soldiers Of Our Queen
[DRAGOONS]
The soldiers of our Queen
Are linked in friendly tether;
Upon the battle scene
They fight the foe together
There ev'ry mother's son
Prepared to fight and fall is;
The enemy of one
The enemy of all is!
The enemy of one
The enemy of all is!
[COLONEL]
If you want a receipt for that popular mystery
Known to the world as a Heavy Dragoon
[DRAGOONS]
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
[COLONEL]
Take all the remarkable people in history
Rattle them off to a popular tune
The pluck of Lord Nelson on board of the Victory –
Genius of Bismarck devising a plan –
The humour of Fielding (which sounds contradictory) –
Coolness of Paget about to trepan –
The science of Jullien, the eminent musico –
Wit of Macaulay, who wrote of Queen Anne –
The pathos of Paddy, as rendered by Boucicault –
Style of the Bishop of Sodor and Man –
The dash of a D'Orsay, divested of quackery –
Narrative powers of Dickens and Thackeray –
Victor Emmanuel – peak-haunting Peveril –
Thomas Aquinas, and Doctor Sacheverell –
Tupper and Tennyson – Daniel Defoe –
Anthony Trollope and Mister Guizot! Ah!
Take of these elements all that is fusible
Melt them all down in a pipkin or crucible
Set them to simmer, and take off the scum
And a Heavy Dragoon is the residuum!
[DRAGOONS]
Yes! yes! yes! yes!
A Heavy Dragoon is the residuum!
[COLONEL]
If you want a receipt for this soldier-like paragon
Get at the wealth of the Czar (if you can) –
The family pride of a Spaniard from Aragon –
Force of Mephisto pronouncing a ban –
A smack of Lord Waterford, reckless and rollicky –
Swagger of Roderick, heading his clan –
The keen penetration of Paddington Pollaky –
Grace of an Odalisque on a divan –
The genius strategic of Caesar or Hannibal –
Skill of Sir Garnet in thrashing a cannibal –
Flavour of Hamlet – the Stranger, a touch of him –
Little of Manfred (but not very much of him) –
Beadle of Burlington – Richardson's show –
Mister Micawber and Madame Tussaud! Ah!
Take of these elements all that is fusible
Melt them all down in a pipkin or crucible
Set them to simmer, and take off the scum
And a Heavy Dragoon is the residuum!
[DRAGOONS]
Yes! yes! yes! yes!
A Heavy Dragoon is the residuum!
