<br>
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart, Music By Richard Rodgers. <br>
Introduced by Bob Lawrence, James Wilkinson, and ensemble. Alternate title: "He Had Twins."<br>
<br>
<br>
Throughout the song the Policeman interprets the sounds<br>
representing the words of the Duke and the Merchant,<br>
Aegean, who are inside the courthouse. The Duke 's mouth<br>
moves and we hear a bass clarinet, followed by the translation <br>
by the Policeman. When Aegean speaks, we hear an<br>
E-flat clarinet, followed by the Policeman 's translation<br>
<br>
CROWD: Hurrah! Hurroo!<br>
There'll be an execution.<br>
It serves him right.<br>
The law makes retribution.<br>
There's going to be a killing.<br>
Hurrah! Hurroo!<br>
 <br>
CITIZEN: It serves him right.<br>
Hurrah! Hurroo!<br>
What did he do?<br>
<br>
POLICEMAN: He came from Syracuse.<br>
 <br>
CROWD: No! No! No!<br>
<br>
POLICEMAN: Yes! Yes! Yes!<br>
So let him plead,<br>
For what's the use?<br>
The sap's from Syracuse!<br>
 <br>
CROWD: The sap' s from Syracuse!<br>
<br>
POLICEMAN: Sh! Listen!<br>
[Aegean (E-flat clarinet) pleads ]<br>
[Duke (bass clarinet) answers ]<br>
 <br>
Yes-he dies!<br>
 <br>
CROWD: Good! That's one down!<br>
[Duke]<br>
<br>
POLICEMAN: He dies tomorrow at sundown.<br>
Our rigid laws of Ephesus<br>
Most rightfully refuse<br>
A visa to any citizen<br>
Of uncivilized Syracuse.<br>
If any one of us would dare to go<br>
To that barbaric city.<br>
He'd get the ax the same as he--<br>
That's why he gets no pity.<br>
<br>
CROWD: <br>
Give him the ax, the ax, the ax-<br>
Give him the ax, the ax-<br>
 <br>
[Duke ]<br>
<br>
POLICEMAN: Unless he can pay a thousand marks,<br>
Or borrow it from the local sharks.<br>
<br>
[Duke]<br>
 <br>
Why did you come here?<br>
<br>
[Aegean]<br>
<br>
I had twins.<br>
<br>
CROWD: <br>
He had twins.<br>
That's nothing much agin him.<br>
He had twins.<br>
<br>
POLICEMAN: <br>
I never thought he had it in him.<br>
<br>
CROWD: <br>
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.<br>
<br>
[Duke]<br>
<br>
POLICEMAN: Is that why you came here?<br>
<br>
[The Policeman now translates Aegean's story for him, <br>
each line coming first from Aegean 's E-flat clarinet <br>
and then sang by the Policeman ]<br>
<br>
I had twins who looked alike,<br>
Couldn't tell one from the other.<br>
They had two slaves who looked alike,<br>
Couldn't tell one from his brother.<br>
But on one unlucky day .<br>
We went sailing on the sea.<br>
This was an unlucky blunder,<br>
For our ship was torn asunder<br>
Just like that!<br>
Just like that!<br>
Just<br>
Like<br>
That!<br>
See?<br>
One young twin went down with me,<br>
One went swimming with his mother.<br>
We were parted by the sea, .<br>
Man and wife and slave and brother.<br>
Now my one remaining brave boy<br>
Went a-searching with his slave boy .<br>
Having lost my son<br>
And wife, too-<br>
I will gladly give my life, too-<br>
Just like that!<br>
Just like that!<br>
Just<br>
Like<br>
That!<br>
See?<br>
I have searched the isles of Greece<br>
From my home to far-off Samos.<br>
Didn't know your local laws.<br>
I am just an lgnoramus.<br>
I am sinless!<br>
I am twinless!<br>
I am wifeless!<br>
I am lifeless!<br>
I<br>
Am<br>
Glad<br>
To<br>
Die!<br>
He had twins,<br>
For them he'd give his life.<br>
He had twins,<br>
To say nothing of his wife.<br>
<br>
CROWD: Hurrah! Hurroo!<br>
There'll be an execution.<br>
It serves him right.<br>
The law makes retribution.<br>
There's going to be a killing.<br>
Hurrah! Hurroo!<br>
What did he do?<br>
He came from Syracuse.<br>
Yes! Yes! Yes!<br>
Yes! Yes! Yes!<br>
Yes! Yes! Yes!<br>
 <br>