Gilbert and Sullivan — The Soldiers of Our Queen

[DRAGOONS] The soldiers of our Queen Are linked in friendly tether; Upon the battle scene They fight the foe together There ev’ry mother’s son Prepared to fight and fall is; The enemy of one The enemy of all is! The enemy of one The enemy of all is! [COLONEL] If you want a receipt for that popular mystery Known to the world as a Heavy Dragoon [DRAGOONS] Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! [COLONEL] Take all the remarkable people in history Rattle them off to a popular tune The pluck of Lord Nelson on board of the Victory – Genius of Bismarck devising a plan – The humour of Fielding (which sounds contradictory) – Coolness of Paget about to trepan – The science of Jullien, the eminent musico – Wit of Macaulay, who wrote of Queen Anne – The pathos of Paddy, as rendered by Boucicault – Style of the Bishop of Sodor and Man – The dash of a D'Orsay, divested of quackery – Narrative powers of Dickens and Thackeray – Victor Emmanuel – peak-haunting Peveril – Thomas Aquinas, and Doctor Sacheverell – Tupper and Tennyson – Daniel Defoe – Anthony Trollope and Mister Guizot! Ah! Take of these elements all that is fusible Melt them all down in a pipkin or crucible Set them to simmer, and take off the scum And a Heavy Dragoon is the residuum! [DRAGOONS] Yes! yes! yes! yes! A Heavy Dragoon is the residuum! [COLONEL] If you want a receipt for this soldier-like paragon Get at the wealth of the Czar (if you can) – The family pride of a Spaniard from Aragon – Force of Mephisto pronouncing a ban – A smack of Lord Waterford, reckless and rollicky – Swagger of Roderick, heading his clan – The keen penetration of Paddington Pollaky – Grace of an Odalisque on a divan – The genius strategic of Caesar or Hannibal – Skill of Sir Garnet in thrashing a cannibal – Flavour of Hamlet – the Stranger, a touch of him – Little of Manfred (but not very much of him) – Beadle of Burlington – Richardson’s show – Mister Micawber and Madame Tussaud! Ah! Take of these elements all that is fusible Melt them all down in a pipkin or crucible Set them to simmer, and take off the scum And a Heavy Dragoon is the residuum! [DRAGOONS] Yes! yes! yes! yes! A Heavy Dragoon is the residuum!