In praise of Grumpiness

[mdlbear]

Apparently research has shown that grumpy people do better in places like nursing homes than those with sweeter dispositions. So I can expect to live a long and grumpy life.

Here's one of my favorite patter songs from Gilbert and Sullivan: "Whene'er I spoke" from Princess Ida.

Let me set the scene a little... Princess Ida is holed up in a well-defended womens' college called Castle Adamant, rather than appear to renew her wedding vows to the prince she was married to twenty years ago. He was two years old at the time; she was one. She wasn't particularly happy about it at the time, either.

Her father-in-law has imprisoned her (admittedly somewhat unpleasant) father, King Gama, until his daughter presents herself, and in Act III we find that he is being subjected to the horrible torture of being given nothing to grumble at.

Gama.
  Whene'er I spoke
  Sarcastic joke
  Replete with malice spiteful,
  This people mild
  Politely smil'd,
  And voted me delightful!
  Now, when a wight
  Sits up all night
  Ill-natur'd jokes devising,
  And all his wiles
  Are met with smiles
  It's hard, there's no disguising!
  Ah! Oh, don't the days seem lank and long
  When all goes right and nothing goes wrong,
  And isn't your life extremely flat
  With nothing whatever to grumble at!
Chorus.
  Oh, isn't your life extremely flat
  With nothing whatever to grumble at!
	
Gama.
  When German bands From music stands
  Play'd Wagner imperfectly
  I bade them go
  They didn't say no,
  But off they went directly!
  The organ boys
  They stopp'd their noise,
  With readiness surprising
  And grinning herds
  Of hurdy-gurds
  Retired apologising!
  Ah! Oh, don't the days seem lank and long
  When all goes right and nothing goes wrong,
  And isn't your life extremely flat
  With nothing whatever to grumble at!
  Chorus.
  Oh, isn't your life extremely flat
  With nothing whatever to grumble at!

Gama.
  I offer'd gold
  In sums untold
  To all who'd contradict me --
  I said I'd pay
  A pound a day
  To anyone who kick'd me --
  I brib'd with toys
  Great vulgar boys
  To utter something spiteful,
  But, bless you, no!
  They would be so
  Confoundedly politeful!
  Ah! In short, these aggravating lads,
  They tickle my tastes, they feed my fads,
  They give me this and they give me that,
  And I've nothing whatever to grumble at!
Chorus.
  Oh, isn't your life extremely flat
  With nothing whatever to grumble at!

King Gama has always been one of my favorite G&S characters. My family all agrees that we have a lot in common.