For those who don't want to sit through the singing:
If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I can...Pretty sure I ran across him on Facebook the other day.
I'm a genuine philanthropist; all other kinds are sham
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow creature I endeavour to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open peoples' eyes
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise
I love my fellow creatures--I do all the good I can
Yet everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man
And I can't think why!
To compliments inflated I've a withering reply
And vanity I always do my best to mortify
A charitable action I can skilfully dissect
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect!
I know everybody's income and what everybody earns
And I carefully compare it with their income tax returns
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet, everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man
And I can't think why!
I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be
And you'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee
I've an irritating chuckle; I've a celebrated sneer
I've an entertaining snigger; I've a fascinating leer!
To everybody's prejudice I know a thing or two
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute--and I do!
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can
Yet everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man
And I can't think why!
What an incredibly bright young man this bright young man must be!
ReplyDeletehello, Roberta
ReplyDeleteMy name is Susan Levy; I'm a friend of Ben Hammer's. Anyway, I'm a long-time G&S fan; I like your characterization of Gama as an Internet troll. I guess that kind of pain in the you-know-what has been around for a long time; the Internet has only given these people wider exposure.
" done with great enthusiasm and minuscule knowledge."
ReplyDeleteAh!
Gun 'control'!
OTOH, Gama was eventually cruelly tortured by surrounding him with people who ... AGREED WITH HIM ALL THE TIME!
ReplyDelete