In Gilbert and Sullivan’s penultimate work, Utopia, Limited, a number of English gentleman have come to the paradisal south-sea isle of Utopia to teach them the British way of doing things. This one introduces himself last:
Capt: I’m Captain Corcoran, K.C.B.,
I’ll teach you how we rule the sea,
And terrify the simple Gauls;
And how the Saxon and the Celt
Their Europe-shaking blows have dealt
With Maxim gun and Nordenfelt
(Or will when the occasion calls).
If sailor-like you’d play your cards,
Unbend your sails and lower your yards,
Unstep your masts—you’ll never want 'em more.
Though we’re no longer hearts of oak,
Yet we can steer and we can stoke,
And thanks to coal, and thanks to coke,
We never run a ship ashore!All: What never?
Capt.: No, never!
All: What never?
Capt: Hardly ever!
All: Hardly ever run a ship ashore!
Then give three cheers, and three cheers more,
For the tar who never runs his ship ashore;
Then give three cheers, and three cheers more,
For he never runs his ship ashore!
