Never Mind the Why and Wherefore - Act I

[CAPTAIN]
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 her tastes are mean and flighty
And her fortune poor and plain

[CAPTAIN, SIR JOSEPH, BOTH, JOSEPHINE]
Ring the merry bells on board-ship
Rend the air with warbling wild
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!
For a humble captain's daughter
For a gallant captain's daughter
And a lord who rules the water
And a tar who ploughs the water!

[CAPTAIN & SIR JOSEPH & JOSEPHINE]
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
In my set could scarcely pass
Though you occupy a station
In the lower middle class

[CAPTAIN, SIR JOSEPH, BOTH, JOSEPHINE]
Ring the merry bells on board-ship
Rend the air with warbling wild
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!
For a humble captain's daughter
For a gallant captain's daughter
And a lord who rules the water
And a tar who ploughs the water!

[CAPTAIN& SIR JOSEPH & JOSEPHINE]
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!

[JOSEPHINE]
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

[CAPTAIN, SIR JOSEPH, BOTH, JOSEPHINE]
Ring the merry bells on board-ship
Rend the air with warbling wild
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!
For a humble captain's daughter
For a gallant captain's daughter
And a lord who rules the water
And a tar who ploughs the water!

[JOSEPHINE, CAPTAIN & SIR JOSEPH, ALL]
Let the air with joy be laden
Ring the merry bells on board-ship
For the union of a maiden
For her union with his lordship
Rend with songs the air above
For the man who owns her love!
Rend with songs the air above
For the man who owns her love!