No. 7 - Trio and Air - Rip Van Winkle and the Children

Lyrics by H. Meilhac, Ph. Gille, and H. B. Farne

[Rip:] Ere the marriage contract is drawn,
What have you got to live upon?
[Alice:] You silly man, we'll live with you!
[Hans:] Of course! of course! that's what we'll do!
[Rip:] A careful wife ne'er lives in folly
When her good man's at work away.
[Alice:] You'll see how neat I'll keep my dolly!
[Hans:] I'll bring her birds' nests ev'ry day!
[Rip:] But if my girl's her husband flouting,
Or if my son-in-law's too gay?
[Alice:] Even then, he'd ne'er find me pouting!
[Hans:] And I'd just let her flout away.
[Rip:] But days are long in summer time?
[Alice:] We'll go a-nutting in the wood!
[Rip:] But when they're white with winter's rime?
[Hans:] O sliding's famous, snow-balling good!
[Childen:] We'll be happy as man and wife!
[Alice:] And we'll seek together
Lilies by the lake,
Berries in the heather,
Fireflies in the brake!
[All:] Yes! we'll seek together
Lilies by the lake,
Berries in the heather,
Fireflies in the brake,
Berries in the heather,
Fireflies in the brake!
Berries in the heather,
Fireflies in the brake!
[Rip:] Brave boy! and thou, my flaxen-headed daughter!
Why must I tell you these fair things shall die?
The berry red, the lily by the water;
That for you dark days may be nigh!
These little heads, now golden,
Silver'd one day may be,
Trembling, and frail, and olden,
(That day I may not see!)
But though flowers may perish,
And though youth may decay,
Still you love, dear ones, cherish,
For love is young for aye!
[Children:] We'll love each other, and for aye!
We'll love each other, and for aye!