“Reuben and Rachel”

Description

Rachel speculates to Reuben about "What a good world this would be If the men were all transported Far beyond the northern sea." Reuben, shocked, tries to fathom the idea; at last he offers marriage. Rachel accepts

Supplemental text

Reuben and Rachel
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From sheet music published 1871 by White, Smith & Perry.
Title page inscribed
   RRRR
   R   R EUBEN
   R   R
   RRRR     AND
   R R
   R  R  ACHEL
   R   R     Comic Duet
     Words by
    Harry Birch
     Music by
   William Gooch

RACHEL.
1. Reuben, I have long been thinking,
   What a good world this might be,
   If the men were all transported
   Far beyond the Northern Sea.
REUBEN.
   Rachel, I have long been thinking,
   What a fine world this might be,
   If we had some more young ladies
   On this side the Northern Sea.
REUBEN.
   Too ral loo ral loo,
RACHEL.
   Too ral loo ral,
REUBEN.
   Too ral loo ral loo,
RACHEL.
   Too ral lee,
RACHEL: If the men were all transported  Far beyond the Northern Sea
REUBEN: If we had some more young ladies On this side the Northern Sea.

RACHEL.
2. Reuben, I'm a poor lone woman,
   No one seems to care for me,
   I wish the men were all transported
   Far beyond the Northern Sea.
REUBEN.
   I'm a man without a victim,
   Soon I think there's one will be,
   If the men are not transported
   Far beyond the Northern Sea.
REUBEN.
   Too ral loo ral loo,
RACHEL.
   Too ral loo ral,
REUBEN.
   Too ral loo ral loo,
RACHEL.
   Too ral lee,
RACHEL: If the men were all transported  Far beyond the Northern Sea
REUBEN: If we had some more young ladies On this side the Northern Sea.*

3.
RACH. Reuben, what's the use of fooling,
        Why not come up like a man?
      If you'd like to have a "lovyer,"
        I'm for life your "Sally Ann."
REU.  Oh my goodness! oh my gracious!
        What a queer world this would be,
      If the men were all transported
        Far beyond the Northern Sea.

4.
RACH. Reuben, now do stop your teazing,
        If you've any love for me;
      I was only just a fooling,
        As of course I thought you'd see.
REU.  Rachel, I will not transport you,
        But will take you for a wife,
      We will live on "milk and honey,"
        Better or worse, we're in for life.

* The sheet music seems to imply that the singers should repeat
the lines of the first verse, even though it would doubtless make
more sense to repeat those of the current verse.

Cross references

• cf. "The Winnipeg Whore" (tune)
• cf. "The Swede from North Dakota" (tune)

References

1. RJackson-19CPop, pp. 180-183, "Reuben and Rachel" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Fuld-WFM, p. 460, "Reuben and Rachel"
3. Silber-FSWB, p. 345, "Reuben, Reuben" (1 text)
4. Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 86, "Reuben, Reuben" (1 text)
5. DT, REUBRACH*
6. ST RJ19180 (Full)
7. Roud #15451
8. BI, RJ19180