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2025 Broadway
The Pirates of Penzance the Musical - When Frederic Was A Little Lad Lyrics
The song is written by Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert.
RUTH:
When Fredric was a little lad
He proved so brave and daring
His father thought he'd 'prentice him
To some career seafaring
I was, alas! his nurs'ry maid
And so it fell to my lot
To take and bind the promising boy
Apprentice to a pilot;
A life not bad for a hardy lad
Though surely not a high lot
Though I'm a nurse, you might do worse
Than make your boy a pilot!
I was a stupid nurs'ry maid
On breakers always steering
And I did not catch the word aright
Through being hard of hearing;
Mistaking my instructions, which
Within my brain did gyrate
I took and bound this promising boy
Apprentice to a pirate!
A sad mistake it was to make
And doom him to a vile lot
I bound him to a pirate - you!
Instead of to a pilot!
I soon found out, beyond all doubt
The scope of this disaster
But I hadn't the face to return to my place
And break it to my master
A nurs'ry maid is not afraid
Of what you people call work
So I made up my mind to go as a kind
Of piratical maid-of-all-work
And that is how you find me now
A member of this shy lot
Which you wouldn't have found,
Had he been bound
Apprentice to a pilot!
RUTH: (spoken)
Oh, pardon! Frederic, pardon!
FREDERIC: (spoken)
Rise, sweet one,
I have long pardoned you
RUTH: (spoken)
The two words were so much alike!
FREDERIC: (spoken)
They were. They still are,
Though years have rolled over their heads.
But this afternoon my obligation ceases.
Individually, I love you all with affection unspeakable;
But, collectively,
I look upon you with a disgust
That amounts to absolute detestation.
Oh! pity me, my beloved friends,
For such is my sense of duty that,
Once out of my indentures,
I shall feel myself bound to devote myself heart
And soul to your extermination!
CHORUS OF PIRATES: (spoken)
Poor lad – poor lad!
PIRATE KING: (spoken)
Well, Frederic,
If you conscientiously feel
That it is your duty to destroy us,
we cannot blame you for acting on that conviction.
Always act in accordance
With the dictates of your conscience,
My boy, and chance the consequences
SAMUEL: (spoken)
Besides, we can offer you
But little temptation to remain with us.
We don’t seem to make piracy pay.
I’m sure I don’t know why, but we don’t
FREDERIC: (spoken)
I know why, but, alas!
I mustn’t tell you; it wouldn’t be right
CHORUS OF PIRATES: (spoken)
Why not, my boy?
It’s only half-past eleven,
And you are one of us until the clock strikes twelve
SAMUEL: (spoken)
True, and until then you are bound
To protect our interests
CHORUS OF PIRATES: (spoken)
Hear, hear!
Review: The Pirates of Penzance the Musical Lyrics
The Pirates of Penzance the Musical Lyrics
SYNOPSIS
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
Oh, Dry The Glistening Tear
Then Frederic
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