The Soldiers of Our Queen
Gilbert and Sullivan * Track #2 On Patience
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The Soldiers of Our Queen by Gilbert and Sullivan
Release Date
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Gilbert and SullivanAbout
This fast-paced patter song is sung by the Colonel, backed up by the Dragoons under his command. He describes the qualities from personages both real and fictional that would make up his ideal soldier. The historical and cultural references in this song require a great deal of unpacking for the mode...
The Soldiers of Our Queen Lyrics
[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!
The Soldiers of Our Queen Q&A
Who wrote The Soldiers of Our Queen's ?
The Soldiers of Our Queen was written by W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan.
When did Gilbert and Sullivan release The Soldiers of Our Queen?
Gilbert and Sullivan released The Soldiers of Our Queen on Sat Apr 23 1881.