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 polished up the handle of the big door.

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

Sir Joseph.
I polished up that so carefullee
That now I am the 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 served the 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,
now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

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

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

Chorus.
For the examination at the Institute.

Sir Joseph.
That pass examination did so for me,
That now I am the of the Queen's Navee!

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

Sir Joseph.
Of legal knowledge I acquired such a
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 kind of ship so suited me,
now I am the ruler of the Queen's Navee!

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

Sir Joseph.
I grew so that I was sent
By a borough into Parliament.
I always voted at my call,
And I never thought of for myself at all.

Chorus.
He never thought of for himself at all.

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

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

Sir Joseph.
Now all, whoever 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 to your desks and never go to sea,
And you all may be rulers of the Navee!

Chorus.
close to your 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 splendid fellow, Corcoran.

Corcoran.
A splendid indeed, Sir Joseph.

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

Corcoran.
Indeed I so, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph.
forget that they are the bulwarks of England's greatness,
Corcoran.

Corcoran.
So I always considered them, Sir Joseph.

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

Corcoran.
Oh, never, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph. What,

Corcoran.
Hardly ever, Sir Joseph. They are an crew, and do
their thoroughly without it.

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

Corcoran.
not, Sir Joseph.

Sir Joseph.
That you are their captain is an accident of birth. I permit
these noble fellows to be because an accident of birth
has you above them and them below you.

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

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

(Dick forward)

No, no, the splendid seaman.

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

Sir Joseph. (sternly)
If

Corcoran.
I beg your pardon -- I don't 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 seaman, I'll be bound.

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

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

Ralph.
No, honour.

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

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

All.
Aye!

Sir Joseph.
Good. I like to hear you speak well of commanding officer;
I he don't 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 I have composed for the use of the Royal Navy. It is
designed to encourage of thought and action in the
branches of the service, and to teach the principle that a
British sailor is any equal, excepting mine. Now, Captain
Corcoran, a with you in your cabin, on a tender and
subject.

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

Boatswain.
Beg pardon. If what, honour?

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.

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

(Exit.)