Luyện nghe bài hát When I Was A Lad

Sir Joseph.
When I was a lad I served a
As office boy to an firm.
I cleaned the and I swept the floor,
And I up the handle of the big front door.

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

Sir Joseph.
I up that handle so carefullee
now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

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

Sir Joseph.
As office boy I such a mark
That they 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 copied all the in a big round hand.

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

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

Sir Joseph.
In writs I made such a name
That an articled clerk I became;
I wore clean collars and a suit
For the examination at the Institute.

Chorus.
For the pass at the Institute.

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

Chorus.
That pass did so well for he,
That now he is the Ruler of the Navee!

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

Chorus.
Was the only ship he ever had seen.

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

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

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

Chorus.
He thought of thinking 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 soul isn't fettered to an office stool,
Be careful to be guided by this rule.

Chorus.
Be careful to be by this golden rule.

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

Chorus.
Stick close to your desks and 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 sailor is a splendid fellow, Captain Corcoran.

Corcoran.
A fellow indeed, Sir Joseph.

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

Corcoran.
Indeed I so, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph.
Never forget that they are the bulwarks of greatness,
Corcoran.

Corcoran.
So I have considered them, Sir Joseph.

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

Corcoran.
Oh, never, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph. What,

Corcoran.
Hardly ever, Sir Joseph. are an excellent crew, and do
their work thoroughly it.

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

Corcoran.
not, Sir Joseph.

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

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

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

(Dick forward)

No, no, the other seaman.

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

Sir Joseph. (sternly)
If

Corcoran.
I beg pardon -- 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 remarkably fellow.

Ralph.
Yes, honour.

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

Ralph.
There's not a smarter 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 all sailors should dance hornpipes. I will teach
you one this evening, dinner. Now tell me — don't be
afraid — how does your captain you, eh?

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

All.
Aye!

Sir Joseph.
Good. I to hear you speak well of your commanding officer;
I daresay he deserve it, but still it does you credit. Can you sing?

Ralph.
I can hum a little, honour.

Sir Joseph.
Then hum at your leisure. (Giving him MS. music.) It is a
song that I composed for the use of the Royal Navy. It is
designed to encourage independence of and action in the
ower branches of the service, and to teach the that a
British sailor is any man's equal, 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 extra grog is served out to the
company at seven bells.

Boatswain.
Beg pardon. If what, honour?

Corcoran.
If what? I don't I understand you.

Boatswain.
If you please, honour.

Corcoran.
What!

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

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

(Exit.)