Finale Act One

Lyrics

[SIR JOHN, spoken] Betsy, why don't you answer? Then it's a ruse And your love for me was a ruse also [BETSY, spoken] No, no, John I love you, I do I love you [SIR JOHN, spoken] You tricked me You threw yourself into my arms [BETSY, spoken] I didn't throw myself into your arms [SIR JOHN, spoken] You let me make love to you while you planned to aid your rebel cause [BETSY, spoken] No, John, no [SIR JOHN, spoken] Don't speak to me [SIR JOHN] Your pretty words were adorable It's deplorable That they were only lies Still you will find I am affable It was laughable That I believed your lies [BETSY] Next to my hеart it is ever so lonely I'm holding only air Whilе here in my arms it's adorable It's deplorable That you were never there [OFFICERS, offstage] Cheerio, little mother of mine! Don't be weary over the sea in the homeland [OFFICERS & MRS. MURRAY, spoken] Anything I am happy to do (Betsy, Betsy) General Howe has given orders to march For the King, for the country (What can we do?) [OFFICERS & BETSY, spoken] And you (We won't have to do anything) Cheerio (The Captain will do it for us) I will hold you again (Have the girls made themselves beautiful?) [OFFICERS & MRS. MURRAY, spoken] With your dreary old (Yes, they're waiting) [OFFICERS & BETSY, spoken] Little head on my shoulder (Glory be for that) Soon the wind will blow homeward ho (Send them out here) So, cheerio, cheerio [The soldiers and ladies enter.] [SIR JOHN, spoken] Captain Tryon [HARRY, spoken] Halt Captain Copeland, General Howe's commands We're returning to the troops at Kip's Bay [SIR JOHN, spoken] I think General Howe will reconsider [HARRY, spoken] I'm sorry I'm acting under his orders [HOWE enters with CLINTON.] [HOWE, spoken] What does this mean? [SIR JOHN, spoken] It means that we must stay here tonight This young lady tried to influence you to leave at once I've reasons to believe some sort of rebel intrigue [HOWE, spoken] That's interesting [CLINTON, spoken] She was anxious before in trying to rid the house of me [SIR JOHN, spoken] Of course, General Howe, her reasons may be purely personal But I think it best we stay [CLINTON, spoken] We'll stay and see it through [BETSY, spoken] No, let the lot of you go You're trespassing in our house Like your flabby old king is trespassing in our country [HOWE, spoken] That's an insult to the crown [BETSY, spoken] To hell with the crown and your king along with it [HOWE, spoken] That settles it We stay Captain Tryon, tell your men to break ranks [HARRY, spoken] Break ranks [BETSY, spoken] Many thanks [HOWE] Though we've no authentic reason To suspect the maid of treason From her actions I begin to See some things we must look into And the only thing to do Is to stay and see it through [MRS. MURRAY] When you tell me you remain, you Give me leave to entertain you Let your duty in a measure Be no duty but a pleasure [TRYON] Duty calls us but in spite of it Hip-hoorah, let's make a night of it [ENSEMBLE] Full-blown roses are sweeter Full-blown blossoms are neater To hail a beauty when you meet her A British soldier knows [TRYON] You're like Venus and between us I prefer the riper charms That the autumn years disclose Your equator may be greater But I like to fill my arms With the most substantial foes [ENSEMBLE] Youthful buds cannot beat her Every day her beauty grows Buds are sweet, she is sweeter We're very glad to meet her And greet her, our full-blown rose [BETSY] Here in my arms it's adorable It's deplorable That you will never, never be there