Luyện nghe bài hát When I Was A Lad

Sir Joseph.
When I was a lad I a term
As boy to an Attorney's firm.
I cleaned the windows and I the floor,
And I up the handle of the big front door.

Chorus.
He up the handle of the big front door.

Sir Joseph.
I polished up that handle so
That now I am the Ruler of the Navee!

Chorus.
He polished up that so carefullee,
now he is the ruler of the Queen's Navee!

Sir Joseph.
As office boy I such a mark
they gave me the post of a junior clerk.
I the writs with a smile so bland,
And I copied all the in a big round hand.
Chorus.
He all the letters in a big round hand.

Sir Joseph.
I all the letters in a hand so free,
That now I am the of the Queen's Navee!

Chorus.
He all the letters in a hand so free,
That now he is the of the Queen's Navee!

Sir Joseph.
In serving writs I made such a
an articled clerk I soon became;
I wore collars and a brand-new suit
For the pass at the Institute.

Chorus.
For the examination at the Institute.

Sir Joseph.
That pass did so well for me,
That now I am the Ruler of the Navee!

Chorus.
That examination did so well for he,
That now he is the of the Queen's Navee!

Sir Joseph.
Of legal knowledge I acquired a grip
That they took me the partnership.
And junior partnership, I ween,
Was the only that I ever had seen.

Chorus.
Was the only that he ever had seen.

Sir Joseph.
But that kind of so suited me,
That now I am the ruler of the Navee!

Chorus.
But that kind of ship so he,
That now he is the ruler of the Navee!

Sir Joseph.
I so rich that I was sent
By a pocket borough Parliament.
I voted at my party's call,
And I never of thinking for myself at all.

Chorus.
He never thought of for himself at all.

Sir Joseph.
I thought so little, they me
By me the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

Chorus.
He so little, they rewarded he
By him the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

Sir Joseph.
Now landsmen all, you may be,
If you want to to the top of the tree,
If your isn't fettered to an office stool,
Be careful to be guided by this rule.

Chorus.
Be to be guided by this golden rule.

Sir Joseph.
Stick close to your desks and go to sea,
And you all may be of the Queen's Navee!

Chorus.
Stick close to desks and never go to sea,
And you all may be of the Queen's Navee!

Sir Joseph.
You've a remarkably fine crew, Corcoran.

Corcoran.
It is a crew, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph. (examining a small midshipman)
A British sailor is a fellow, Captain Corcoran.

Corcoran.
A fellow indeed, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph.
I hope you treat your crew kindly, Corcoran.

Corcoran.
Indeed I so, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph.
Never forget that are the bulwarks of England's greatness,
Corcoran.

Corcoran.
So I have always them, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph.
No bullying, I trust — no strong of any kind, eh?

Corcoran.
Oh, never, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph. What,

Corcoran.
Hardly ever, Sir Joseph. are an excellent crew, and do
work thoroughly without it.

Sir Joseph.
Don't patronise them, sir — pray, don't them.

Corcoran.
not, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph.
That you are captain is an accident of birth. I cannot permit
these noble fellows to be patronised an accident of birth
has placed you above them and below you.

Corcoran.
I am the last person to a British sailor, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph.
You are the last who did, Captain Corcoran. Desire
that splendid seaman to forward.

(Dick forward)

No, no, the other seaman.

Corcoran.
Ralph Rackstraw, paces to the front — march!

Sir Joseph. (sternly)
If

Corcoran.
I beg your -- I don't think I understand you.

Sir Joseph.
If you please.

Corcoran.
Oh, yes, of course. If you please. (Ralph forward.)

Sir Joseph.
You're a fine fellow.

Ralph.
Yes, honour.

Sir Joseph.
And a first-rate seaman, be bound.

Ralph.
not a smarter topman in the Navy, your honour,
I say it who shouldn't.

Sir Joseph.
Not at all. Proper self-respect, nothing more. Can you
a

Ralph.
No, honour.

Sir Joseph.
That's a pity: all sailors should dance hornpipes. I teach
you one this evening, dinner. Now tell me — don't be
— how does your captain treat you, eh?

Ralph.
A better don't walk the deck, your honour.

All.
Aye!

Sir Joseph.
Good. I like to you speak well of your commanding officer;
I daresay he don't deserve it, but still it does you credit. Can you

Ralph.
I can hum a little, honour.

Sir Joseph.
Then hum at your leisure. (Giving him MS. music.) It is a
song that I have for the use of the Royal Navy. It is
designed to independence of thought and action in the
ower branches of the service, and to teach the that a
sailor is any man's equal, excepting mine. Now, Captain
Corcoran, a word with you in your cabin, on a and
subject.

Corcoran.
Aye, aye, Sir Joseph. (Crossing) Boatswain, in
of this joyous occasion, see that extra grog is out to the
company at seven bells.

Boatswain.
Beg pardon. If what, your

Corcoran.
If I don't think I understand you.

Boatswain.
If you please, honour.

Corcoran.
What!

Sir Joseph.
The is quite right. If you please.

Corcoran. (stamping his foot impatiently)
If you please!

(Exit.)