Illyria

Illyria Lyrics

Illyria Song Lyrics

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FESTE
ILLYRIA, LOVELY ISLE
SOME YEARS AGO I ANCHORED THERE A WHILE
SOMETHING IN THE AIR THERE
MUST HAVE AN ODD EFFECT
FOR EV'RY KIND OF IDLE FANCY
GROWS UNCHECKED
IN ILLYRIA...
(Speaks)
Home to the greatest fools on earth! Of course, not all of them are professionals such as myself. But if you give audience,
I'll unfold you a tale concerning our two foremost amateurs...
(Sings)
HERE IN ILLYRIA

ORSINO
That strain again! It had a dying fall...

FESTE
Duke Orsino, the ruler of Illyria.

ORSINO
MY HEART,
HUNGRY AS THE SEA
IS FED ON ONLY DREAMING,
FILLED WITH ENDLESS APPETITE FOR LOVE
ALL MY THOUGHTS
ARE RIVERS TO THAT SEA,
TURBULENT AND TEEMING,
AS THEY'LL EVER BE'TIL SHE IS MINE
I PINE FOR THERE IS NO OTHER LOVE FOR ME
THAN OLIVIA.

FESTE
This was the name of his beloved.

ORSINO
OLIVIA...

FESTE
The Countess Olivia. For the sake of her dearly departed brother, she had vowed to mourn for seven years.

OLIVIA
Let the doors be shut. I'll receive no one, not even the Duke.

FESTE
She was no less enamored of her melancholy that the Duke. And so she filled her days with lachrymose lament and doleful
dirge.

OLIVIA
DEAR BROTHER OF MINE,
SEE HOW MY ROOM IS YOUR SHRINE.
LONG IN MY MEMORY
THE IMAGE WILL SHINE OF YOU,
DEAR BROTHER OF MINE.

TOBY
Psst.

MARIA
Shh.

TOBY
Psst!

MARIA
Shh!

MALVOLIO
Shh!

TOBY
Maria...

MARIA
What is it?!

TOBY
A catastrophe: the ale seems to be locked up.

MALVOLIO
Sir Toby, my Ladyship will no longer tolerate your drinking. Apart from a glass of wine with your meals, any drink you
desire you must pay for out of your own pocket. I have made strict account of our present stores, so I will know exactly how
much you consume. Maria, see to it that he pays.

TOBY
WHAT SHALL I DO IN ILLYRIA?
I AM SPENT WITH LAMENT O'ER MY NEPHEW.
IT'S BEEN AGES SINCE ANY BIT OF F-U-N
COULD BE FOUND 'ROUND HERE.
I SAY IT'S TIME WE WERE CHEERIER,
AND I'LL BET THAT MY NEPHEW WOULD AGREE.
COME, LET ME HAVE A CUP,
SO I CAN OFFER UP A TOAST
TO MY DEAR EX-HOST.

MARIA
Neither your purse nor your paunch can afford another cup.

TOBY
Sir Andrew will be here soon. I'll have the money from him.

MARIA
I've no doubt you will. But please, Sir Toby, for my sake, won't you be more moderate? This drinking will undo you.

TOBY
Oh, it's already undone me. Last night a button off my britches nearly put out Sir Andrew's eye.

MARIA
WHAT SHALL YOU DO IN ILLYRIA,
WHEN AT LAST YOU ARE CAST OUT THE DOOR, SIR?
IF YOU ANGER MY MISTRESS ANY MORE, SIR TOBY,
THE DAY MAY COME.
LIFE IN THIS HOUSE WILL BE DREARIER
WHEN THERE'S NONE LEFT TO MARVEL AT MY WIT.
PLEASE, SIR, BE MODERATE
MEND YOUR WAYS, JUST A BIT-

ANDREW
That does it. I'm leaving.

TOBY
Wait, Sir Andrew! You mustn't run off like this. Come, we'll have a drink, and you'll tell us what's the matter...

ANDREW
WHAT SHALL I DO IN ILLYRIA?
WILL YOUR NIECE NEVER CEASE IN HER GRIEVING?
SHALL I STAY, WHEN THE LADY'S NOT RECEIVING ME,
AND EVEN THE DUKE IS MET WITH REBUKE?

TOBY
My niece will warm to you. I'm certain of it.

ANDREW
But how can I be, as you say, the most illegible bachelor in Illyria, when the Duke himself is a suitor?

TOBY
Ha! The Duke is hardly a rival for a man of your distinction.

ANDREW
I know, Sir Toby. But sometimes I have my doubts.

TOBY
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DANCE A GAVOTTE?

ANDREW
I DO.

TOBY
AND YOU ARE RATHER TALL, ARE YOU NOT?

ANDREW
THAT'S TRUE...

MARIA
AND YOU KNOW HOW TO SPEAK
BOTH IN LATIN AND GREEK

ANDREW
AND IN FRENCH!
'UN PEU.'
(Pronounces it "poo")

TOBY
THEN TELL ME,
HOW COULD A KNIGHT SO SUPERIOR
EVER DOUBT THAT HE'D FAIL TO SUCCEED?
WHAT'S A REBUFF OR TWO?
SOONER OR LATERYOU
WILL GAIN WHAT YOU SEEK.

ANDREW
WELL, PERHAPS ONE MORE WEEK.

TOBY
Excellent! Then let us drink to your imminent engagement. Maria, pour us another round. Sir Andrew will pay!

FESTE
So matters stood and so they might have stayed were it not for a change in the weather. One particular day, dark clouds
gathered as a ship passed near the coast. On board were a brother and sister, Sebastian and Viola. Born of a single hour, the
two constant companions were traveling abroad for the first time in their young lives. And though Illyria was not their
destination, it was their destiny nevertheless. Quite suddenly, the storm broke upon them. The sky turned to lead, and the
sea became savage. Wave upon wave crashed against the hull, until at last the ship split apart. The girl could not swim, so
her brother bound her to a broken mast. But no sooner had he done this than the sea tore him from her grasp. She awoke on the
shores of Illyria.

VIOLA
WHERE ARE YOU, SEBASTIAN?

FESTE
Her brother was nowhere to be found.

VIOLA
SEBASTIAN...

FESTE
Fearful of what dangers might await a young girl on her own, Viola took refuge in the only protection she knew.

VIOLA
WHAT COUNTRY IS THIS?

FESTE
ILLYRIA,
LOVELY ISLE
SOME YEARS AGO I ANCHORED THERE A WHILE.
SOMETHING IN THE AIR THERE
MUST HAVE AN ODD EFFECT
FOR EVERY KIND OF IDLE FANCY
GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS
AND GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS
AND GROWS AND GROWS

(in counterpoint)
OLIVIA
DEAR BROTHER OF MINE
SEE HOW MY ROOM IS YOUR SHRINE
LONG IN MY MEM'RY THE IMAGE OF YOU
WILL LIVE ON, DEAR
THOUGH YOU'RE GONE, DEAR

OLIVIA AND MALVOLIO
YOU'LL/HE'LL LIVE ON
AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON

(in counterpoint)
ORSINO
MY LOVE FOR OLIVIA
IS AS LOFTY AND LARGE
AS THE SKY UP ABOVE
BUT WHEN WILL OLIVIA LOVE ME?

(in counterpoint)
TOBY
STAY ANOTHER WEEK

ANDREW
I WILL!

MARIA
WIN HER WITH YOUR CHARM.

ANDREW
- AND SKILL!

TOBY
SHE MAY SEEM ALOOF.

ANDREW
BUT STILL...

MARIA
NEVER GIVE UP HOPE

ANDREW
UNTIL,

TOBY, MARIA, AND ANDREW
FINALLY THERE COMES A DAY
WHEN WE HEAR THE LADY SAY,
"ANDREW, YOU HAVE CAPTURED MY HEART!"

ALL
ILLYRIA,
LAND OF FOOLS,
WHERE CLARITY'S A RARITY
AND MADNESS RULES
MAY MEN STEER CLEAR OF THOSE SHORES
AH, BUT ILLYRIA...

FESTE
I'M STILL YOURS.

[Thanks to Sara for lyrics]