A Wand'ring Minstrel, I is a song from the first act of the musical opera, The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan. In the opera, it is sung by the romantic lead tenor, Nanki-Poo, when asked who he was by the Japanese nobles. It is sung in the courtyard of Ko-Ko (the Lord High Executioner of Titipu)'s palace in Titipu, Japan.
Appearances on MWC[]
It is heard twice on MWC performed by David Garrison in his regular role as Steve Rhoades during season 4 and as Rubio The Cruel during his guest appearance during season 7.
In the season 4 episode, "Dead Men Don't Do Aerobics", Steve can be heard singing the first few lines of the song through the front door when he stops by the Bundy Residence looking for Marcy. He then opens the door and asks her if she wants to join him for The Mikado, before singing another Mikado song, "For He's Going to Marry, Yum-Yum". Marcy then desperately pleads with Peggy to let her stay and watch Jim Jupiter work out there.
As Rubio The Cruel sinigng "A Wand'ring Minstrel, I" to disarm Princess Scarlet
In the season 7 episode, "Peggy and the Pirates", after Princess Scarlet disarms The Rubettes, Rubio the Cruel takes a few steps forward towards her and belts out the the first few lines of the song, causing her to scream in horror and drop her sword. This gives him a chance to disarm her and tell her of his plans.
Lyrics[]
[Nanki-Poo]
A wandering minstrel I —
A thing of shreds and patches
Of ballads, songs and snatches
And dreamy lullaby!
My catalogue is long
Through every passion ranging
And to your humours changing
I tune my supple song!
I tune my supple song!
Are you in sentimental mood?
I'll sigh with you
Oh, sorrow, sorrow!
On maiden's coldness do you brood?
I'll do so, too —
Oh, sorrow, sorrow!
I'll charm your willing ears
With songs of lovers' fears
While sympathetic tears
My cheeks bedew —
Oh, sorrow, sorrow!
But if patriotic sentiment is wanted
I've patriotic ballads cut and dried;
For where'er our country's banner may be planted
All other local banners are defied!
Our warriors, in serried ranks assembled
Never quail — or they conceal it if they do —
And I shouldn't be surprised if nations trembled
Before the mighty troops of Titipu!
[Chorus]
We shouldn't be surprised if nations trembled
Trembled with alarm
Before the mighty troops
The troops of Titipu!
[Nanki-Poo]
And if you call for a song of the sea
We'll heave the capstan round
With a yeo heave ho, for the wind is free
Her anchor's a-trip and her helm's a-lee
Hurrah for the homeward bound!
[Chorus]
Yeo-ho — heave ho —
Hurrah for the homeward bound!
[Nanki-Poo]
To lay aloft in a howling breeze
May tickle a landsman's taste
But the happiest hour a sailor sees
Is when he's down
At an inland town
With his Nancy on his knees, yeo ho!
And his arm around her waist!
[Chorus]
Then man the capstan — off we go
As the fiddler swings us round
With a yeo heave ho
And a rum below
Hurrah for the homeward bound!
With a yeo heave ho
And a rum below
Yeo-ho, heave ho
Yeo-ho, heave ho
Heave ho, heave ho, yeo-ho!
[Nanki-Poo]
A wandering minstrel I —
A thing of shreds and patches
Of ballads, songs and snatches
And dreamy lullaby!
[Chorus]
And dreamy lulla-lullaby
Of dreamy lullaby
Lullaby! Lullaby!