Gilbert and Sullivan — Never Mind the Why and Wherefore - Act I

[CAPTAIN] Never mind the why and wherefore Love can level ranks, and therefore Though his lordship's station's mighty Though stupendous be his brain Though her tastes are mean and flighty And her fortune poor and plain [CAPTAIN, SIR JOSEPH, BOTH, JOSEPHINE] Ring the merry bells on board-ship Rend the air with warbling wild For the union of his/my lordship With a humble captain's child! For a humble captain's daughter For a gallant captain's daughter And a lord who rules the water And a tar who ploughs the water! [CAPTAIN & SIR JOSEPH & JOSEPHINE] Let the air with joy be laden Rend with songs the air above For the union of a maiden With the man who owns her love! [SIR JOSEPH] Never mind the why and wherefore Love can level ranks, and therefore Though your nautical relation In my set could scarcely pass Though you occupy a station In the lower middle class [CAPTAIN, SIR JOSEPH, BOTH, JOSEPHINE] Ring the merry bells on board-ship Rend the air with warbling wild For the union of his/my lordship With a humble captain's child! For a humble captain's daughter For a gallant captain's daughter And a lord who rules the water And a tar who ploughs the water! [CAPTAIN& SIR JOSEPH & JOSEPHINE] Let the air with joy be laden Rend with songs the air above For the union of a maiden With the man who owns her love! [JOSEPHINE] Never mind the why and wherefore Love can level ranks, and therefore I admit the jurisdiction; Ably have you played your part; You have carried firm conviction To my hesitating heart [CAPTAIN, SIR JOSEPH, BOTH, JOSEPHINE] Ring the merry bells on board-ship Rend the air with warbling wild For the union of his/my lordship With a humble captain's child! For a humble captain's daughter For a gallant captain's daughter And a lord who rules the water And a tar who ploughs the water! [JOSEPHINE, CAPTAIN & SIR JOSEPH, ALL] Let the air with joy be laden Ring the merry bells on board-ship For the union of a maiden For her union with his lordship Rend with songs the air above For the man who owns her love! Rend with songs the air above For the man who owns her love!