The Daddy Long-legs and the Fly
Once Mr. Daddy Long-legs*, Dressed in brown and gray, Walked about upon the sands Upon a summer's day; And there a-mong the pebbles, When the wind was rather cold, He met with Mr. Floppy Fly, All dressed in blue and gold. And as it was too soon to dine, They drank some Periwinkle-wine, And played an hour or two, or more, At battlecock and shuttledore.**
Said Mr. Daddy Long-legs To Mr. Floppy Fly, 'Why do you nev-r come to court? I wish you'd tell me why. All gold and shine, in dress so fine, You'd quite delight the court. Why do you never go at all? I really think you ought! And if you went, you'd see such sights! Such rugs! Such jugs! and candlelights! And more than all, the King and Queen, One in red, and one in green!'
'O Mr. Daddy Long-legs,' Said Mr. Floppy Fly, 'It's true I never go to court, And I will tell you why. If I had six long legs like yours, At once I'd go to court! But oh! I can't, because my legs Are so extremely short. And I'm afraid the King and Queen (One in red, and one in green) Would say aloud, "You are not fit, You Fly, to come to court a bit!"'
'O Mr. Daddy Long-legs,'
Said Mr. Floppy Fly, 'I wish you'd sing one little song! One mumbian melody! You used to sing so aw-ful well In former days gone by, But now you never sing at all; I wish you'd tell me why: For if you would, the silv’ry sound Would please the shrimps and cockles round, And all the crabs would gladly come To hear you sing, "Ah, hum di Hum"!'
Said Mr. Daddy Long-legs, 'I can never sing again!
And if you wish, I'll tell you why, Although it gives me pain. For years I cannot hum a bit, Or sing the smallest song; And this the dreadful reason is, My legs are grown too long! My six long legs, all here and there, Op-press my bosom with despair; And if I stand, or lie, or sit, I cannot sing one little bit!'
So Mr. Daddy Long-legs And Mr. Floppy Fly
Sat down in silence by the sea, And gazed upon the sky. They said, 'This is a dreadful thing! The world has all gone wrong, Since one has legs too short by half, The other much too long! One never more can go to court, Because his legs have grown too short; The other cannot sing a song, Because his legs have grown too long!'
Then Mr. Daddy Long-legs And Mr. Floppy Fly
Rushed downward to the foamy sea With one sponge-taneous cry; And there they found a little boat, Whose sails were pink and gray; And off they sailed among the waves, Far, and far away. They sailed across the si-lent main, And reached the great Gromboolian plain; And there they play for ever-more At battlecock and shuttledoor.
*a Crane fly (not a mosquito or spider) **actually, battledore & shuttlecock, an early sport related to modern badminton
Composer's Note:
While the poem satirizes the class differences and vanity of the 19th Century Victorian era - especially, the Court - its theme of not "fitting in" has particular resonance these days.
The Daddy Long-legs and the Fly
Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Piano
capriccioso
capriccioso ca. ca. =126 =126 S A T B Pno. 5 cresc. poco a poco accel. accel. Once Once =152 =152 rit. rit.
Moderato
Moderato
©2024
Atempo Atempo 9 9
MisterDaddyLonglegs,
Dressedinbrownandgray,
WalkedaboutthesandsU
MisterDaddyLonglegs,
Dressedinbrownandgray,
WalkedaboutthesandsU
ponasummer'sday;
S
Pno.
A T B
S A T B Pno. 12
And And thereamongthepebbles,Whenthe
He He windwasrathercold,He windwasrathercold,He 4TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
ponasummer'sday;
thereamongthepebbles,Whenthe
metwithMister.FloppyFly,All
metwithMister.FloppyFly,All
metwithMister.FloppyFly,All
metwithMister.FloppyFly,All
S A T B Pno. 15
dressedinblueandgold.
-- S A T B Pno. 18 And And dolce dolce asitwastoo asitwastoo dolce soontodine, soontodine, The5 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
dressedinblueandgold.
dressedinblueandgold.
dressedinblueandgold.
Periwinklewine,
Periwinklewine,
S A T B Pno. 21 Theydranksome Theydranksome
And And dolce dolce playedanhouror playedanhouror S A T B Pno. 24 two,ormore,At two,ormore,At poco rit. poco rit. giocoso giocoso battlecockandshuttle battlecockandshuttle battlecockandshuttle battlecockandshuttle a tempo a tempo giocoso giocoso dore. dore. dore. dore. 6TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
wishyou'dtellmewhy.All
goldandshine,indresssofine,You'd
wishyou'dtellmewhy.All
goldandshine,indresssofine,You'd
wishyou'dtellmewhy.
don'tyoucometocourt?I
wishyou'dtellmewhy.
S A T B Pno. 27 Said Said Said Said Mister.DaddyLonglegsTo Mister.DaddyLonglegsTo DaddyLonglegsTo DaddyLonglegsTo 28 28 Mister.FloppyFly,'Why Mister.FloppyFly,'Why FloppyFly,'Why FloppyFly,'Why S A T B Pno. 30 doyounevercometocourt?I doyounevercometocourt?I
don'tyoucometocourt?I
The7 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
quitedelightthecourt.
quitedelightthecourt.
Suchrugs!
Suchjugs!
S A T B Pno. 33
Why Why doyounevergoatall?I doyounevergoatall?I And And reallythinkyouought! reallythinkyouought! dolce dolce S A T B Pno. 36 ifyouwent,you'd ifyouwent,you'd Oo Oo dolce dolce seesuchsights!Such seesuchsights!Such Ahh Ahh rugs!Suchjugs!and
8TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
rugs!Suchjugs!and
candlelights!
candlelights!And
candlelights!And
Oneinred,
S A T B Pno. 39
candlelights!
Kingand
poco rit. poco rit. Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen, S A T B Pno. 42 maestoso
Kingand
morethanall,theKingand
morethanall,theKingand
and a tempo a tempo The9 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
oneingreen!'
Mister.DaddyLonglegs,'Said
S A T B Pno. 45
'O S A T B Pno.
Ahh Ahh Ahh 48 48 Mister.FloppyFly, Oo Oo'It's Oo trueInevergotocourt,And 10TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
S A T B Pno. 51 If
Ihadsixlonglegslikeyours,At At onceI'dgotocourt! onceI'dgotocourt! But S A T B Pno. 54 Are Are Are oh!Ican't,becausemylegs soextremelyshort.AndI'ma soextremelyshort.AndI'ma soextremelyshort. fraidtheKingandQueen fraidtheKingandQueen afraid -The11 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
Iwilltellyouwhy.
(Oneinred,andoneingreen)
Wouldsayaloud,"Youarenot
(Oneinred,andoneingreen)
Wouldsayaloud,"Youarenot
Wouldsayaloud,"Youarenot
Wouldsayaloud,"Youarenot
(Oneinred,andoneingreen)
Wouldsayaloud,"Youarenot
Wouldsayaloud,"Youarenot
S A T B Pno. 57
fit,AndI'ma fit,AndI'ma - S A T B Pno. 60 fraidtheKingandQueen fraidtheKingandQueen afraid
(Oneinred,andoneingreen)
-- 12TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
fit,YouFly,to
fit,YouFly,to
fit,YouFly,to
fit,YouFly,to
cometocourtabit!"'
Youarenot
Youarenot
Mister.DaddyLonglegs,'Said
Mister.DaddyLonglegs,'Said
S A T B Pno. 63
cometocourtabit!"' cometocourtabit!"' cometocourtabit!"'
Youarenot You fit! fit! fit! fit! S A T B Pno. 67 'O 'O rit. rit.
a tempo a tempo 68 68
The13 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
Mister.FloppyFly,'I
Mister.FloppyFly,'I
wishyou'dsingonelittlesong!One
wishyou'dsingonelittlesong!One
nowyouneversingatall;I
wishyou'dtellmewhy:Forifyou
nowyouneversingatall;I
wishyou'dtellmewhy:
nowyouneversingatall;I
wishyou'dtellmewhy:
nowyouneversingatall;I
wishyou'dtellmewhy:
S A T B Pno. 70
mumbianmelody! mumbianmelody! You You usedtosingsoawfulwellIn usedtosingsoawfulwellIn S A T B Pno. 73 But But formerdaysgoneby,But formerdaysgoneby,But
--- 14TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
dolce
would,thesilv’rysoundWould
pleasetheshrimpsandcocklesround,And
allthecrabswouldgladly
youwould
pleasetheshrimpsandcocklesround,And
Pno. 76
S A T B
dolce
ifyou
ifyou
dolce leggiero leggiero
ifyou ifyou
gladly allcrabs S A T B Pno. 79 comeForifyou come allthecrabswouldcome allthecrabswouldcome would,thesilv’rysoundWould Forifyouwould ifyouwould ifyouwould dolce
please,please,pleaseAnd please,please,pleaseAnd The15 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
allthecrabswouldgladly
pleasetheshrimpsandcocklesround,
pleasetheshrimpsandcocklesround,
S A T B Pno. 82
"Ah,humdiHum"!' sing,humdi sing, humdihum Hum!" humdi rit. rit. S A T B Pno. 85 hum G.P. G.P. G.P. G.P. G.P. =104 =104 87 87 Menomossodolorosa Menomossodolorosa Said 16TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
allthecrabswouldcomeTohearyou
allthecrabswouldcomeTohearyou
MisterLonglegs,
MisterLonglegs,
itgivesmepain!
itgivesmepain!
ifyouwish,I'lltellyouwhy,Al
S A T B Pno. 89
sotto voce sotto voce singagain singagain singagain neversingagain!And ord. ord. ord. wishwhy wishwhy
sotto voce sotto voce--- S A T B Pno. 92
ord. ord. ord. ord. ord. ord. Hmm Hmm Hmm yearsIcannothumabit,Or Hmm Hmm Hmm singthesmallestsong;And The17 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
Mister.DaddyLonglegs,'Ican
itgivesmepain!
thoughitgivesmepain!For
legsaregrowntoolong!
legsaregrowntoolong!
legsaregrowntoolong!My
sixlonglegs,all
legsaregrowntoolong!
S A T B Pno. 95 Hmm Hmm Hmm thisthedreadfulreasonis,My
sotto voce sotto voce sotto voce sixlegs
sixlegs S A T B Pno. 98 here hereOp hereandthere, here ord. solenne oppress pressmybosom oppress oppress ord. ord. ord. solenne solenne solenne
--18TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
sixlegs
withdispair;And
withdespair;
withdispair;
withdispair;
ifIstand,or
dododododododo
S
B
101
A T
Pno.
Hmm Hmm lie,orsit, lie,orsit,
Ahh Ahh Ahh cannotsingone litlebit! littlebit! littlebit! littlebit! - S A T B Pno. 105 litlebit! littlebit! littlebit! littlebit! litlebit! littlebit! littlebit! littlebit! So So So rit. rit. (1or2perpart) (1or2perpart) (1or2perpart)-- The19 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
lie,orsit,
lie,orsit,I
Mister.FloppyFlySat
gazeduponthesky.They
said,'Thisisadreadfulthing!The
gazeduponthesky.
said,'Thisisadreadfulthing!The
worldhasallgonewrong,
gazeduponthesky.
said,adreadfulthing!The
said,adreadfulthing!The
S A T B Pno.
Mister.Longlegs 108 108 =88 =88 Menomosso Menomosso Mister.FloppyFlySat
Mister.DaddyLonglegsAnd
Mister.DaddyLonglegsAnd
Mister.FloppyFly, downinsilencebythesea,And downinsilencebythesea,And downbythesea,And -- S A T B Pno. 111
2
worldhasallgonewrong,Since
--20TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
(1or
perpart)
worldhasallgonewrong,
worldhasallgonewrong,
onehaslegstooshortbyhalf,The
A T B Pno.
oneshort
oneshort
legshavegrowntoolong.Then
legshavegrowntoolong.
leg'stooshort
leg'stooshortThe
legshavegrowntoolong.
S
114
oneshort
othermuchtoolong!One othermuchtoolong!One othermuchtoolong! othermuchtoolong! tutti tutti rit. rit. tutti tutti nevermore nevermorecangotocourt,Be nevermore nevermore =80 =80 Menomossosostenuto 116 116 Menomossosostenuto --- S A T B Pno. 117 legstooshort causehisleg'stooshort;
cannotsing cannotsing cannotsing othercannotsingasong;his
-The21 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
legshavegrowntoolong
cresc. poco a poco
onespongetaneouscry;
allarg. allarg.
S A T B Pno.
Mister.Longlegs Mister Mister 120 120
Mister.DaddyLonglegsAnd
cresc. poco a poco
cresc. poco a poco
76
76 Maestoso Maestoso Mister.FloppyFlyRushed Mister.FlyRushed Mister.Fly Mister downwardtothefoamyseaWith downwardtothefoamyseaWith downwardfoamysea downwardwith ---- S A T B Pno. 123 onespongetaneouscry; onespongetaneouscry; onespongetaneouscry;
And And theretheyfoundalittleboat,Whose theretheyfoundalittleboat,Whose 22TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco
=
=
offtheysailedamongthewaves,
offtheysailedamongthewaves,
S A T B Pno. 126 sailswerepinkandgray; sailswerepinkandgray; And
3 Far,andfaraway.They Far,andfaraway. Far,andfaraway. Far,andfaraway. 3 3 rit. rit.-- S A T B Pno. saileda They saileda saileda =116 =116 Leisurelywaltz Leisurelywaltz 129 129 crossthe sailed cross crossthe silent dodododo silent silent main,And dodododododo mainAnd mainAnd The23 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
And
S A T B Pno. 133 reachedthe reachedthe reachedthe reachedthe greatGrom greatGrom greatGrom greatGrom boolian boolian boolian boolian plain;And plainAnd plain plain - - S A T B Pno. 137 therethey therethey dodododo therethey playfor playfor dodododododo playfor allarg. allarg. ever ever ever ever more more more more At -- 24TheDaddyLong-legsandtheFly
S A T B Pno. battlecock and =80 =80 Freely Freely 142 142 At At shuttledore.At At battlecockandshuttle battlecockandshuttle
battlecockandshuttle - S A T B Pno. Tempoprimo Tempoprimo 145 145 =126 =126 cresc. poco a poco accel. accel. =152 =152 dore. dore. dore. dore. The25 DaddyLong-legsandtheFly
battlecockandshuttle
