Toreador Song from Carmen (Bizet)

Transcript

♪ ♪ Sergeant Paul, the courteous and the claiming, I lift my glass to soldiers gay and bold. Our heroes like you, with courage flaming, trail with joy, trail with joy when they come to behold. See the circus drunk with crowds of people, the seats are filled up, up and o'er.

The bells ring on from every steeple, all the world has come, has come to show. Ah, what shouting, what frisky voices, when the bull flies out with angry roar. Ah, to them, the Tory roar rejoices, full of honour when the fight is o'er.

Look out, beware, look out, beware. Ah, Toreador, now guard thee, Toreador, Toreador. Bear thou in mind when combat delay, bright eyes fondly regarded for the abandoned way, Toreador, for the abandoned way.

♪ Suddenly there comes a silence, there comes a silence. Ah, what has happened now? All hearts are beating high, all hearts are beating high.

There's a mighty bull come thrashing out of the Tory. See he flies, his foe he returns, down goes the gallant horse, with him goes a Picador. Ah, bravo Toro, shout of the people, all goes the bull now here, now there.

Raging he flies, and man and boy, the banter erupts. It's fancy while he fights, the arena streams o'er. Many people safely climb the fences.

Now then, Toreador, time, prepare, prepare, prepare. Ah, Toreador, now guard thee, Toreador, Toreador. Bear thou in mind when combat delay, bright eyes fondly regarded for the abandoned way, Toreador, for the abandoned way.

♪

Transcribed by AI from the recording above. These are noisy hundred-year-old cylinders, so expect misheard words and the occasional invented line — trust your ears over the text.