Copyright © The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive
All Rights Reserved

LD. MOUNT.: When Britain really ruled the waves--
(In good Queen Bess's time)
The House of Peers made no pretence
To intellectual eminence,
Or scholarship sublime;
Yet Britain won her proudest bays
In good Queen Bess's glorious days!
Yet Britain won her proudest bays
In good Queen Bess's glorious days!

CHORUS: Yet Britain won her proudest bays
In good Queen Bess's glorious days!

LD. MOUNT.: When

Wellington thrashed Bonaparte,
As ev'ry child can tell,
The House of Peers, throughout the war,
Did nothing in particular,
And did it very well:
Yet Britain set the world ablaze
In good King George's glorious days!
Yet Britain set the world ablaze
In good King George's glorious days!

CHORUS: Yet Britain set the world ablaze
In good King George's glorious days!

LD. MOUNT.: And

while the House of Peers withholds
Its legislative hand,
And noble statesmen do not itch
To interfere with matters which
They do not understand,
As bright will shine Great Britain's rays
As in King George's glorious days!
As bright will shine Great Britain's rays
As in King George's glorious days!

CHORUS: As bright will shine Great Britain's rays
As in King George's glorious days!

By Arthur Sullivan
Generated by NoteWorthy Composer

Iolanthe No. 16  When Britain really ruled the waves
Lyrics
Lord Mountararat
Sopranos
Altos
Tenors
Basses