Poetry Corner: W.S. Gilbert

In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day

For this edition of the Poetry Corner, we return to the lyrics of W.S. Gilbert, this time from The Pirates of Penzance, again set to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Oh, better far to live and die

King.
Oh, better far to live and die
Under the brave black flag I fly,
Than play a sanctimonious part,
With a pirate head and a pirate heart.
Away to the cheating world go you,
Where pirates all are well-to-do;
But I’ll be true to the song I sing,
And live and die a Pirate King.

For I am a Pirate King!
And it is, it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King!

For I am a Pirate King!

Chorus.
You are!
Hurrah for our Pirate King!

King.
And it is, it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King.

Chorus.
It is!
Hurrah for our Pirate King!

King & Chorus.
Hurrah for the/our Pirate King!

King.
When I sally forth to seek my prey
I help myself in a royal way.
I sink a few more ships, it’s true,
Than a well-bred monarch ought to do;
But many a king on a first-class throne,
If he wants to call his crown his own,
Must manage somehow to get through
More dirty work than ever I do,

For I am a Pirate King!
And it is, it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King!

For I am a Pirate King!

Chorus.
You are!
Hurrah for the Pirate King!

King.
And it is, it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King.

Chorus.
It is!
Hurrah for our Pirate King!

King & Chorus.
Hurrah for the/our Pirate King!