When I Was A Lad chords by Gilbert & Sullivan

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Verse 1
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C 
D 
G 
When I was a lad,
I served a term as office boy
to an attorney's firm.
I cleaned the windows and
I swept the floor,
A 
and I polished up the handle
D 
A 
of the big front door.
D 
G 
I polished up that handle so carefully,
C 
that now I am the ruler
G 
of the Queen's Navy.
He was a man so careful and meek,
C 
That now he is the ruler
G 
of the Queen's Navy.
As office boy I made such a mock,
That they gave me the post of a junior clerk.
I served the Ritz with a smile so bland,
A 
And I copied all the letters
D 
A 
in a big round hand.
D 
G 
I copied all the letters in a hand so free,
C 
That now I am the ruler
G 
of the Queen's Navy.
He copied all the letters in a hand so free,
C 
That now he is the ruler
G 
of the Queen's Navy.
In serving Ritz,
I majored a name
that an article clerk I
soon became.
I wore clean collars and a brand new suit
D 
for the pass examination
A 
of the institute.
D 
G 
That pass examination did so well for me
C 
that now I am the ruler
G 
C 
G 
of the Queen's Navy.
Of legal knowledge, I acquired such a grift
C 
that they took me into the partnership,
G 
and that junior partnership, Iween,
A 
D 
was the only ship I ever had seen.
A 
D 
The only ship he ever had seen.
G 
But that kind of ship so suited me
C 
that now I am the ruler
G 
of the Queen's Navy.
Yes, that kind of ship so suited he
C 
that now he is the ruler
G 
of the Queen's Navy.
I grew so rich
that I was sent by a pocket
borough into Parliament.
I always voted at my party's call
A 
and never thought of thinking for
D 
meself at all.
A 
D 
Never thought for meself at all.
G 
I fought so little, they rewarded me
C 
By making me the ruler
G 
of the Queen's Navy
He fought so little, they rewarded me
C 
By making him the ruler
G 
of the Queen's Navy
Now, landsmen all, whoever you may be
If you want to rise to the top of the tree
If your soul is infested to an office stool
A 
Be careful to be guided
D 
by this golden rule
A 
Be careful to be guided
D 
by this golden rule
G 
Stick close to your desks
and never go to sea,
C 
And you all may be rulers
G 
of the Queen's Navy.
Stick close to your desks
and never go to sea,
C 
And all may be rulers
G 
C 
D 
of the Queen's Navy.
G 
D 
G 
D 
G 
You're a remarkably fine crew,
Captain Corcoran.
It is a fine crew, Sir Joseph.
A British sailor
is a splendid fellow,
Captain Corcoran.
A splendid fellow indeed, Sir Joseph.
I hope you'll treat your crew kindly,
G 
Captain Corcoran.
Indeed I hope so, Sir Joseph.
Never forget that they are
the bulwarks
of England's greatness,
Captain Corcoran.
So I have always considered them,
Sir Joseph.
No bullying, I trust.
A 
No strong language of any kind, eh?
Oh, never, Sir Joseph.
What, never?
Well, hardly ever, Sir Joseph.
They are an excellent crew
and do their work thoroughly without it.
Don't patronise them, sir.
Pray don't patronise them.
Certainly not, Sir Joseph.
That you are their captain
is an accident of birth.
I cannot permit these noble
fellows
to be patronised.
Because an accident of birth
has placed you above
them
and them below you.
I am the last person to insult
a British sailor,
Sir Joseph.
D 
G 
You are the last person who did,
A 
Captain Corcoran.
Desire that splendid seaman
to step forward.
No, no, the other splendid seaman.
Wraith Rackstraw,
three paces to the front, march.
A 
G 
If what? I beg your pardon,
C 
I don't think I understand you.
If you please.
Oh yes, of course,
if you please.
You're a remarkably fine
fellow.
Yes, your honour.
And a first -rate seaman,
I'll be bound.
There's not a smarter topman in the navy,
your honour,
though I say it you shouldn't.
Not at all, not at all.
Proper self -respect, nothing more.
Can you dance a hornpipe?
No, Your Honour.
That's a pity.
All sailors should dance hornpipes.
I will teach you one this evening,
after dinner.
Now, tell me. Don't be afraid.
How does your captain treat you, eh?
A better captain don't walk the deck,
Your Honour.
Aye, aye. Good, good.
I'd like to hear you speak well
of your commanding officer.
I dare say he don't deserve it,
but still it does you credit.
Oh, can you sing?
I can hum a little, Your Honour.
Oh, then hum this at your leisure.
It is a song that I have composed
for the use of the Royal Navy.
It is designed to encourage independence
of thought and action
in the lower branches of the service,
and to teach the principle
that a British sailor
is any man's equal.
D 
Excepting mine.
Now, Captain Corcoran,
a word with you in your cabin
on a tender and sentimental subject.
Aye, aye, Sir Joseph.
And Bowson, in commemoration of this joyous occasion,
see that extra grog is served out
to the ship's company at
seven bells.
Beg pardon?
If what, your honour?
If what?
I don't understand you.
If you please, your honour.
What?
The gentleman is quite right.
Yeah. If you please.
If you please. us.