Camelot movie - What Do The Simple Folk Do? lyrics

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Song by Richard Burton<br /><br>

GUENEVERE<br>

What do the simple folk do<br>

To help them escape when they're blue?<br>

The shepard who is ailing, the milkmaid who is glum<br>

The cobbler who is wailing from nailing his thumb<br>

When they're beset and besieged<br>

The folk not noblessly obliged<br>

However do they manage to shed their weary lot?<br>

Oh, what do simple folk do we do not?<br>

<br>

ARTHUR<br>

I have been informed by those who know them well<br>

They find relief in quite a clever way<br>

When they're sorely pressed, they whistle for a spell<br>

And whistling seems to brighten up their day<br>

And that's what simple folk do<br>

So they say<br>

<br>

GUENEVERE<br>

They whistle?<br>

<br>

ARTHUR<br>

So they say<br>

<br>

(they whistle for a while)<br>

<br>

GUENEVERE<br>

What else do the simple folk do<br>

To pluck up the heart and get through?<br>

The wee folk and the grown folk<br>

Who wander to and fro<br>

Have ways known to their own folk<br>

We throne folk don't know<br>

When all the doldrums begin<br>

What keeps each of them in his skin?<br>

What ancient native custom provides the needed glow?<br>

Oh, what do simple folk do?<br>

Do you know?<br>

<br>

ARTHUR<br>

Once, upon the road, I came upon a lad<br>

Singing in a voice three times his size<br>

When I asked him why, he told me he was sad<br>

And singing always made his spirits rise<br>

And that's what simple folk do<br>

I surmise<br>

<br>

GUENEVERE<br>

They sing?<br>

<br>

ARTHUR<br>

I surmise<br>

<br>

BOTH<br>

Arise, my love, arise, my love<br>

Apollo's lighting the skies, my love<br>

The meadows shine with columbine<br>

And daffodils blossom away<br>

Hear Venus call to one and all<br>

And taste delight while you may<br>

The world is bright and all is right<br>

And life is merry and gay<br>

<br>

GUENEVERE<br>

What else do the simple folk do?<br>

They must have a system or two<br>

They obviously outshine us at turning tears to mirth<br>

And tricks a royal highness is minus from birth<br>

What, then, I wonder, do they<br>

To chase all the goblins away?<br>

They have some tribal sorcery you haven't mentioned yet<br>

Oh, what do simple folk do to forget?<br>

<br>

ARTHUR<br>

Often, I am told, they dance a fiery dance<br>

And whirl 'till they're completely uncontrolled<br>

Soon the mind is blank and oh, they're in a trance<br>

A violent trance astounding to behold<br>

And that's what simple folk do<br>

So I'm told<br>

<br>

GUENEVERE<br>

They dance?<br>

<br>

ARTHUR<br>

So I'm told<br>

<br>

(they dance)<br>

<br>

GUENEVERE<br>

What else do the simple folk do<br>

To help them escape when they're blue?<br>

<br>

ARTHUR<br>

They sit around and wonder what royal folk would do<br>

And that's what simple folk do<br>

<br>

GUENEVERE<br>

(spoken)<br>

Oh, no, really?<br>

<br>

ARTHUR<br>

I have it on the best authority.<br>

<br>

BOTH<br>

(sung)<br>

Yes, that's what simple folk do<br>

<br>

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