The Kings’ Barcarolle

Lyrics

[CHARLES EDWARD] I do hereby make a motion In hopes of your approval That after our removal From this most unpleasant ocean We all say farewell To vanity and strife And in some dale (Or in some dell) Pursue the simple life [CANDIDE] What a royal, royal notion! [HERMANN AUGUSTUS] I second Charles's motion [CHARLES EDWARD] I thank you, noble Prussian [PANGLOSS] Let us open the discussion [SULTAN ACHMET] Yo-ho! [PANGLOSS, spoken] Sh! [TSAR IVAN] Charles Edward's plan appeals to me What good are pomp and riches? Let's wash our hands of luxury In irrigation ditches I'm sick of plot and counterplot They never fail to thicken Let's find a humble rustic spot And cultivate the chicken [CANDIDE] Ah, what pregnant observations! [IVAN] I thank you for your patience [HERMANN] Point of order, Mister Chairman [PANGLOSS] The floor is yours, King Hermann [ACHMET] Yo-ho! [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh. Ugh.  [PANGLOSS, spoken] Sh! [HERMANN] We kings live so unpleasantly Our lives are hard and lonely Let's form a happy peasantry For former monarchs only I'll trade my kingdom for a hoe My scepter for a shovel And make the red, red roses grow Around our happy hovel [CANDIDE] What a very sweet suggestion! [CHARLES EDWARD] I hereby move the question [IVAN] I second Charles's move, sirs [PANGLOSS] Say "Aye" if you approve, sirs [ACHMET] Yo-ho! [IVAN] Aye! [HERMANN] Aye! [CHARLED EDWARD] Aye! [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh! [ACHMET] Yo ho! [IVAN] Aye! [HERMANN] Aye! [CHARLED EDWARD] Aye! [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh! [ACHMET] Yo ho! [CHARLES EDWARD, HERMANN & IVAN] Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye! [PANGLOSS] Aye! [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh! [ALL except STANISLAUS] We have passed Charles Edward's motion And now if we can manage Without excessive damage The motion of this ocean [CHARLES EDWARD, HERMANN, & IVAN] We'll all say farewell To vanity and strife And in some dale (Or in some dell) Pursue the simple life [ACHMET] Yo-ho for the simple life Yo-ho for the simple life [CHARLES EDWARD] Yo-ho for the simple life Yo-ho for the simple life [HERMANN] Yo-ho for the simple life Yo-ho for the simple life [IVAN] Yo-ho for the simple life [ACHMET] Yo-ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho [CANDIDE, PANGLOSS, CHARLES EDWARD, HERMANN & IVAN] Yo-ho [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh. Ugh.  [CANDIDE, PANGLOSS, CHARLES EDWARD, HERMANN & IVAN] Yo-ho [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.  [ACHMET] Yo-ho [CANDIDE, PANGLOSS, CHARLES EDWARD, HERMANN & IVAN] Yo-ho [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.  [ACHMET] Yo-ho [CANDIDE, PANGLOSS, CHARLES EDWARD, HERMANN & IVAN] Yo-ho [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.  [ACHMET] Yo-ho [CANDIDE, PANGLOSS, CHARLES EDWARD, HERMANN & IVAN] Yo-ho [STANISLAUS, spoken] Ugh. Ugh.  [ACHMET] Yo-ho