[Chorus:]
It is trot, trot, trot on the turnpike road,
All of a fresh spring morning,
While the whip-lash swings and the post-horn sings,
And the music gives all warning.
It is trot, trot, trot on the turnpike road,
All in the April weather,
While whip and horn, on echoes borne,
Sing a jolly duet together.
Tang-ta-ta-ra. Crick-crack, crick-crack,
Tang-ta-ra. Crick-crack, crick-crack, away.
O list to the whip-lash ring,
And hark to the post-horn sing,
Their song we hear so gay and so clear,
We trot away upon the turnpike road, away!
We trot away upon the turnpike road, away!
[Pamela:]
From London town, from London town,
We come in periwigs, patches and paint,
[Lovelace & others:]
On a coach and four
to your rustic door,
And we find you exceedingly queer and quaint.
[Chorus:]
And they find us exceedingly queer and quaint.
[Pamela:]
Of London town it's little you know,
So we'll tell you the chief of our aims is
[Principals:]
To pose and prattle,
take tea and tittle-tattle
in Piccadilly or St. James's.
[Chorus:]
In Piccadilly or St. James's.
[Pamela:]
In London town, in London town,
With snuff-box, quizzing glass, fluttering fan,
[Lovelace & others:]
How we sneer and strut,
and our old friends cut;
All but those who are smartest are 'neath our ban.
[Chorus:]
All but those who are smartest are 'neath our ban.
[Pamela:]
Of London town it's little you know,
Rustic you with your herds and your flocks all.
[Principals:]
We've such compassion
for people out of fashion
in Ranelagh and in Vauxhall.
[Chorus:]
In Ranelagh and in Vauxhall.
[Pamela:]
In London town, in London town,
Polly mustn't venture in her home-spun gown,
The Strephon of a village is a veritable clown
When he ventures in society in London town.
[Others:]
In London town,
[All:]
In London town,
Polly mustn't venture in her home-spun gown,
The Strephon of a village is a veritable clown
When he ventures in society in London town.
[Pamela:]
Thus we dance, in this style sedately,
[Lovelace:]
All the latest figures that have come from France.
[All:]
Thus we trip a gavotte sedately,
[Pamela:]
Dignified and stately,
[Others:]
Dignified and stately,
[Chorus:]
Thus they trip a gavotte sedately,
[Pamela:]
Statuesquely posing in a courtly dance.
[Pamela, Lovelace & Doll:]
Hand to hand with languid air and smile.
[Toby & Sir Godfrey:]
With languid smile.
[Pamela & Lovelace:]
Slowly, eyes meet eyes
With ev'ry most infatuating wile,
[Chorus:]
Let us try to imitate them.
[Pamela & Lovelace:]
'Tis a dance of witchery and guile.
[Pamela:]
And ah! Love has his fairest chance
with partners in this stately dance.
[Chorus:]
Let us try this dance so stately.
[Pamela, Lovelace & Doll:]
Dignified and stately,
[Toby & Sir Godfrey:]
Dignified and stately,
[Chorus:]
Thus we trip a gavotte sedately,
Like this, this style,
[Toby & Sir Godfrey:]
With curtsey low,
[Chorus:]
all smile,
[Pamela, Lovelace & Doll:]
With curtsey low,
We bow,
[Toby & Sir Godfrey:]
We bow,
[Pamela, Lovelace & Doll:]
Bow low,
[All:]
Just so.