An old rat's tale (John Frederick Bridge)

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• (Posted 2021-02-21)  CPDL #63070:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2021-02-21).   Score information: A4, 7 pages, 167 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: An old rat's tale
Composer: John Frederick Bridge
Lyricist: Laura E. Richards

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: ATTB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Humorous Song

Language: English
Instruments: Piano

First published: 1892 The Orpheus no.237
Description: Inscribed to the Stock Exchange male voice choir.

Original text and translations

English text

He was a rat, and she was a rat,
And down in one hole they did dwell.
And both were as black as a witch's hat,
And they loved one another well.

He had a tail, and she had a tail;
Both long and curling and fine.
And each said, "Yours is the finest tail
In the world, excepting mine!"

He smelt the cheese, and she smelt the cheese,
And they both pronounced it good;
And each resolved it would greatly add
To the charms of their daily food.

So he ventured out and she ventured out;
And I saw them go with pain.
But what befell them I never can tell,
For they never came back again.