The Pirates of Penzance the Musical Lyrics

The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where it was well received by both audiences and critics.

The story concerns Frederic, who, having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates. He meets the daughters of the incompetent Major-General Stanley, including Mabel, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Frederic soon learns, however, that he was born on 29 February, and so, technically, he has a birthday only once each leap year. His indenture specifies that he remain apprenticed to the pirates until his "twenty-first birthday", meaning that he must serve for another 63 years. Bound by his own sense of duty to honour his bond with the pirates, Frederic's only solace is that Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully. The pirates' maid-of-all-work, Ruth, eventually reveals a fact that saves the day.

2025 Broadway
The Pirates of Penzance the Musical Lyrics

SYNOPSIS

Act I

Pour, O Pour The Pirate Sherry
When Frederic Was A Little Lad
Oh, Better Far To Live And Die
Oh, False One, You Have Deceived Me!
Climbing Over Rocky Mountain
Stop, Ladies, Pray!
Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast
Poor Wandering One
What Ought We To Do?
How Beautifully Blue The Sky
Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses
Hold, Monsters!
I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
Oh, Men of Dark and Dismal Fate


Act II

Oh, Dry The Glistening Tear
Then Frederic
When The Foeman Bares His Steel
Now For The Pirates' Lair!
When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold
My Eyes Are Fully Open (from "Ruddigore")
Away, Away! My Heart's On Fire
All Is Prepared
Stay, Frederic, Stay!
Sorry Her Lot (from "H.M.S. Pinafore")
No, I Am Brave
Sergeant, Approach!
When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment
A Rollicking Band Of Pirates We
With Cat-Like Tread, Upon Our Prey We Steal
Hush, Hush! Not A Word
Sighing Softly To The River
Finale



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# Article Title
1 SYNOPSIS
2 Pour, O Pour The Pirate Sherry Lyrics
3 When Frederic Was A Little Lad Lyrics
4 Oh, Better Far To Live And Die Lyrics
5 Oh, False One, You Have Deceived Me! Lyrics
6 Climbing Over Rocky Mountain Lyrics
7 Stop, Ladies, Pray! Lyrics
8 Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast Lyrics
9 Poor Wandering One Lyrics
10 What Ought We To Do? Lyrics
11 How Beautifully Blue The Sky Lyrics
12 Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses Lyrics
13 Hold, Monsters! Lyrics
14 I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General Lyrics
15 Oh, Men of Dark and Dismal Fate Lyrics
16 Oh, Dry The Glistening Tear Lyrics
17 Then Frederic Lyrics
18 Now For The Pirates' Lair! Lyrics