My Virtual Reading Room

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"He little thinks how eloquently he has pleaded his rival's cause!" :P
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Lyrics:
 CAPT.          Never mind the why and wherefore,
               Love can level ranks, and therefore,
               Though his lordship's station's mighty,
                    Though stupendous be his brain,
               Though your tastes are mean and flighty
                    And your fortune poor and plain,
CAPT. and      Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
SIR JOSEPH.         Rend the air with warbling wild,
               For the union of his/my lordship
                    With a humble captain's child!
CAPT.               For a humble captain's daughter--
JOS.                For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH.         And a lord who rules the water--
JOS. (aside).       And a tar who ploughs the water!
ALL.           Let the air with joy be laden,
                    Rend with songs the air above,
               For the union of a maiden
                    With the man who owns her love!
SIR JOSEPH.         Never mind the why and wherefore,
                    Love can level ranks, and therefore,
               Though your nautical relation (alluding to Capt.)
                    In my set could scarcely pass--
               Though you occupy a station
                    In the lower middle class--
CAPT. and      Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
SIR JOSEPH.         Rend the air with warbling wild,
               For the union of my/your lordship
                    With a humble captain's child!
CAPT.               For a humble captain's daughter--
JOS.                For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH.         And a lord who rules the water--
JOS. (aside).       And a tar who ploughs the water!
ALL.           Let the air with joy be laden,
                    Rend with songs the air above,
               For the union of a maiden
                    With the man who owns her love!
JOS.           Never mind the why and wherefore,
               Love can level ranks, and therefore
               I admit the jurisdiction;
                    Ably have you played your part;
               You have carried firm conviction
                    To my hesitating heart.
CAPT. and      Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
SIR JOSEPH.         Rend the air with warbling wild,
               For the union of my/his lordship
                    With a humble captain's child!
CAPT.               For a humble captain's daughter--
JOS.                For a gallant captain's daughter--
SIR JOSEPH.         And a lord who rules the water--
JOS. (aside).       And a tar who ploughs the water!
(Aloud.)       Let the air with joy be laden.
CAPT. and SIR JOSEPH.  Ring the merry bells on board-ship--
JOS.           For the union of a maiden--
CAPT. and SIR JOSEPH.  For her union with his lordship.
ALL.           Rend with songs the air above
               For the man who owns her love!
 
This joyous outburst of sprightly music serves not only as a comic device on the superficiality of decisions maiden Victorian England but also a display of three individual attitudes toward class. One notable action in the piece by Josephine can be interpreted to serve dual meanings. Following Sir Joseph's self ordained title as the "lord who rules the water,"  Josephine, instructed by stage actions turns aside whispering a repeat of the phrase replacing lord with tar. This reference to a tar, or common sailor, assumes two meanings. The first is that of Josephine mocking Sir Joseph's arrogant display of pride and self  image by reminding us that in the end Joseph is nothing more than a sailor (rather than a man of social order). A second meaning can be taken as Josephine's expressal of her love for Ralph as she comes to the realization that love, being able to level all ranks, removes any barriers of class preventing her marriage to Ralph.

 (lyrics and analysis from  gopcapitalist.tripod.com/song2.html)