Things are Seldom What They Seem

Song Description

By modernizing the score to HMS Pinafore I hope to open the door to the absurd kookiness of Gilbert's book and lyrics for a whole new generation of audiences, designers, choreographers, and directors. Recorded at MP Studios,NYC, MP Kuo - engineer, December, 2015 through March, 2016. Jeffrey Johnson - Captain Corcoran; Vicky Devaney - Mrs. Cripps; Brett Rowe - piano.

Song Length 2:21 Genre Unique - Unclassified

Lyrics

Things are seldom what they seem,
Skim milk masquerades a cream,
Highlows pass as patent leathers,
Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers.

Very true, so they do.

Black sheep dwell in every fold,
All that glitters is not gold,
Storks turn out to be but logs,
Bulls are but inflated frogs.

So they be, frequently.

Drops the wind and stops the mill,
Turbot is ambitious trill,
Gild the farthing if you will,
yet it is a farthing still.

Yes I know, that is so.

Tho' to catch your drift I'm striving,
It is shady, it is shady,
I don't see at what you're driving, mystic lady!

Stern convictions o'er him (me) stealing,
That the mystic lady's dealing,
In oracular revealing,
Yes I know, that is so.

Though I'm anything but clever,
I could talk like that forever,
Once a cat was killed by care,
Only brave deserve the fair.

Very true, so they do.

Wink is often good as nod,
Spoils the child who spares the rod,
Thirsty lams run foxy dangers,
Dogs are found in many mangers.

Frequently, I agree.

Paw of cat the chestnut snatches,
Worn out garments show new patches,
Only count the chick that hatches,
Men are grown up catchy catchies.

Yes I know, that is so!

Tho' to catch my drift he's striving,
I'll dissemble, I'll dissemble,
When he sees at what I'm driving
Let him tremble!

Tho' a mystic tone I (you) borrow,
He (I) will learn the truth with sorrow,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
Yes I know, that is so.

I'll dissemble, I'll dissemble,
(Tho' a mystic tone you borrow,
I will learn the truth tomorrow),
I'll dissem...let him tremble
(Here today, here today,
Gone tomorrow).

Yes I know, that is so.

Lyrics W.S. Gilbert Music Thad Wheeler
Producer Thad Wheeler

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