[Chorus]
With aspect stern and gloomy stride
We come to learn how you decide
Dont hesitate, your choice to name
A dreadful fate, you'll suffer all the same
A dreadful fate, you'll suffer all the same
[POO-BAH]
To ask you what you mean to do
We punctually appear
[KO-KO]
Congratulate me, gentlemen
I've found a volunteer!
[Chorus]
The Japanese equivalent for "Hear, hear hear!"
[KO-KO]
'Tis Nanki-Poo
[Chorus]
Hail, Nanki-Poo!
[KO-KO]
I think he'll do
[Chorus]
Yes, yes he'll do
[KO-KO]
He yields his life if I'll Yum-Yum surrender
Now I adore that girl with passion tender
And could not yield her with a ready will
Or her allot, if I did not
Adore myself with passion tenderer still
With passion tenderer still
[Chorus]
Ah, yes, he loves himself with passion tenderer still
[KO-KO]
Take her. (Not you silly!) She's yours
[NANKI-POO]
The threatened cloud has passed away
[YUM-YUM]
And brightly shines the dawning day
[NANKI-POO]
What though the night may come too soon
[YUM-YUM]
There's yet a month of afternoon
[POOH-BAH, PISH-TUSH, NANKI-POO, YUM-YUM, PITTI-SING & PEEP-BO]
Then let the throng, our joy advance
With laughing song, and merry dance, then let the throng of joy and dance
With laughing song and merry dance, with laughing song and merry dance! With laughing song
[Chorus]
With joyous shout, with joyous shout and ringing cheer!
Inaugurate,inaugurate and brief career!
With joyous shout and ringing, inaugurate and new career
With joyous shout with ringing cheer, inaugurate and new career!
[PITTI-SING]
A day, a week, a month, or year
[YUM-YUM]
Or far or near, or far or near!
[POO-BAH]
Life's evening-times comes much too soon
[PITTI-SING]
You'll have a least a honeymoon!
[POOH-BAH, PISH-TUSH, NANKI-POO, YUM-YUM, PITTI-SING & PEEP-BO]
Then let the throng, our joy advance
With laughing song, and merry dance, then let the throng of joy and dance
With laughing song and merry dance, with laughing song and merry dance! With laughing song
[Chorus]
With joyous shout, with joyous shout and ringing cheer!
Inaugurate,inaugurate and brief career!
With joyous shout and ringing, inaugurate and new career
With joyous shout with ringing cheer, inaugurate and new career!
[POO-BAH]
As in a month, you've got to die
If Ko-Ko tells us true, 'twere empty compliment to cry
"Long Life to Nanki-Poo!"
But as one month you have to live as fellow citizen
This toast with three times three we'll give --
Long life, long life to you
Long life to you, till then
[Chorus]
May all good fortune prosper you
May you have health, may you have health and riches too
May you succeed in all you do, may all good fortune prosper you
May you succeed in all you do, long life, long life until you then!