Ruler of the Queen’s Navy/HMS Pinafore

The other day I was sitting next to a fellow over dinner who turned out to be a professional tribunal chairperson adjudicating on military cases.

He spent a good deal of time in Plymouth on naval cases. For this he had earned the honorary title of Rear Admiral.

This made me think of the humorous song by Gilbert and Sullivan Ruler of the Queen’s Navy in their comic opera HMS Pinafore.

This charts the rise of a solicitor from junior clerk to partner to parliament where

“I always voted at my party’s call

and never thought for thinking for myself at all …”

He is rewarded for his loyalty by being appointed Ruler of the Queen’s Navy.

He ends the song with this advice which made me think of my dining neighbour:

“Stick close to your desk and never go to sea

and you will be the ruler of the Queen’s Navy …”

Gilbert and Sullivan are never ranked amongst the Puccinis, Verdis and Wagners.

Nevertheless, as tuneful drole librettists, they deserve to be.

I met an opera buff once who said “Give me Gilbert and Sullivan over Wagner’s Ring Cycle any day. “

Here is the song on YouTube: