Gilbert & Sullivan If You Want To Know Who We Are Lyrics

(Chorus of Nobles:)
If you want to know who we are,
We are gentlemen of Japan:
On many a vase and jar —
On many a screen and fan,
We figure in lively paint:
Our attitude's queer and quaint —
You're wrong if you think it ain't
Ooooh!

If you think we are worked by strings,
Like a Japanese marionette,
You don't understand these things:
It is simply Court etiquette.
Perhaps you suppose this throng
Can't keep it up all day long?
If that's your idea, you're wrong,
Ooooh! Ooooh!
If that's your idea, you're wrong

If you want to know who we are,
We are gentlemen of Japan: On vase and jar,
On screen and fan,
On many, many, many, many,
Many, many, many, many, a jar,
Ooooh! Ooooh! Ooooh! Ooooh!
On vase and jar,
On screen and fan.

[[Enter Nanki-Poo in great excitement. He carries a native guitar on his back and a bundle of ballads in his hand]]

(Nanki-Poo:)
Gentlemen, I pray you tell me
Where a gentle maiden dwelleth,
Named Yum-Yum, the ward of Ko-Ko?
In pity speak, oh speak I pray you!

(A Noble:)
Why, who are you who ask this question?

(Nanki-Poo:)
Come gather round me, and I'll tell you.