Stately as a Galleon. By Joyce Grenfell.
Famed for her hilarious monologues which she would perform on the radio, stage and television.
Joyce performing Stately as a Galleon on her T.V. show, I loved her, she was such a clever, eloquent and witty lady.
She wrote The Belles of St. Trinians, which starred herself and Alastair Simm.
The list of her works is endless so I am just including Stately as a Galleon for your glee!
..
(this is a monologue which can be set to music, it is a humorous description of ladies indulging in Old Thyme Dancing..If you Google Joyce Grenfell, there is a host of information about her and also clips of her live performances on You Tube, Well worth looking at, if it grabs your attention.)
Stately as a Galleon.
My neighbour Mrs Fanshaw, is portly , plump and gay,
she must be over sixty-seven if she is a day.
You might have thought her life was dull.
It's one long whirl instead,
I asked her all about it, and this is what she said:
I've joined an Old Thyme Dance Club, the trouble is that there,
Are too many ladies over, and no gentlemen to spare,
But still it has to be,
Some ladies have to dance together,
one of them is me.
Stately as a Galleon, I sail across the floor,
Doing the Military Two-step, as in the day of yore.
I dance with Mrs Tiverton; she's light on her feet, in spite of turning the scale at fourteen stone,
and being of medium height.
So gay the band,
So giddy the sight,
Full evening dress is a must,
But the zest goes out of The Waltz
When you dance it bust to bust.
So stately as two Galleons as we sail across the floor,
Doing the Valse Valetta, as in the days of yore.
The gent is Mrs Tiverton and I am her lady fair,
She bows to me ever so nicely and I curtsey to her with care.
So gay the band,
So giddy the sight,
But it's not the same in the end, for a lady is never a gentleman,
though she may be your bosom Friend!
So stately as a Galleon, I sail across the floor,
Doing the dear old Lancers, in the days of yore.
I'm led by Mrs Tiverton, she swings me round and round
And though she manoeuvers me wonderfully well
I never get off the ground .
So gay the band,
So giddy the sight, I try not to get depressed.
And it's done me a power of good to explode,
And get it off my chest!
My sincere thanks to the GORGEOUS Denise for devising ABCW and also the GENIAL Roger for his GREAT efforts in overseeing the smooth running of ABCW,
Thanks also go out to the GLADSOME team of helpers who support the running of ABCW,
Best wishes to you all.
Di,
ABCW team,