Britten: Peter Grimes, Op. 33 / Act 1: "And Do You Prefer the Storm" - James Pease/Peter Pears/Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Benjamin Britten

Lyrics by：Montagu Slater|George Crabbe

Composed by：Benjamin Britten

And do you prefer the storm

To auntie's parlour and the rum

I live alone the habit grows

Grimes since you're a lonely soul

Born to blocks and spars and ropes

Why not try the wider sea

With merchantman or privateer

I am native rooted here

Rooted by what

By familiar fields

Marsh and sand

Ordinary streets

Prevailing wind

You'd slip these moorings if you had the mind

By the shut faces

Of the borough clans

And by teh kindness

Of a casual glance

You'll find no comfort there

When an urchin's quarrelsome

Brawling at his little games

Mother stops him with a threat

You'll be sold to peter grimes

Selling me new apprentices

Children taught to be ashamed

Of the legend on their faces

You've been sold to peter grimes

Then the crowner sits to

Hint but not to mention crimes

And publishes an open verdict

Whispered about this peter grimes

Your boy was workhouse starved

Maybe you're not to blame he died

Picture what that day was like

That evil day

We strained into the wind

Heavily laden

We plunged into the wave's

Shuddering challenge

Then the sea rose to a storm

Over the gunwales

And the boy's silent reproach

Turned to illness

Then home

Among fishing nets

Alone alone alone

With a childish death

This storm is useful you can speak your mind

And never mind the borough commentary

There is more grandeur in a gale of wind

To free confession set a conscience free

They listen to money

These borough gossips

I have my visions

Fiery visions

They call me dreamer

They scoff at my dreams

And my ambition

But I know a way

To answer the borough

I'll win them over

With the new prentice

We'll sail together

These borough gossips

Listen to money

Only to money

I'll fish the sea dry

Sell the good catches

That wealthy merchant

Grimes will set up

Household and shop

You will all see it

I'll marry ellen

I'll marry ellen

I'll marry ellen

Man–go and ask her

Without your booty

She'll have you now

No–not for pity

Then the old tragedy

Is in store

New start with new prentice

Just as before

What peter grimes decides

Is his affair

Is his affair

You told and nice

Are you my conscience

Might as well

Try shout the wind down as to tell

The obvious truth

Take your advice

Put it where your money is

The storm is here o come away

I shall stay