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I know a youth Lyrics by Gilbert and Sullivan

Ruddigore

0

[Robin, Rose, both]

I know a youth who loves a little maid –
(Hey, but his face is a sight for to see!)
Silent is he, for he’s modest and afraid –
(Hey, but he’s timid as a youth can be!)

I know a maid who loves a gallant youth
(Hey, but she sickens as the days go by!)
She cannot tell him all the sad, sad truth –
(Hey, but I think that little maid will die!)

Poor little man!
Poor little maid!
Poor little man!
Poor little maid!
Now tell me pray, and tell me true
What in the world should the young man/maiden do?

He cannot eat and he cannot sleep –
(Hey, but his face is a sight for to see!)
Daily he goes for to wail – for to weep –
(Hey, but he’s wretched as a youth can be!)

She’s very thin and she’s very pale –
(Hey, but she sickens as the days go by!)
Daily she goes for to weep – for to wail –
(Hey, but I think that little maid will die!)

Poor little man!
Poor little maid!
Poor little man!
Poor little maid!
Now tell me pray, and tell me true
What in the world should the young man/maiden do?

If I were the youth I should offer her my name –
(Hey, but her face is a sight for to see!)
If were the maid I should fan his honest flame –
(Hey, but he’s bashful as a youth can be!)
If I were the youth I should speak to her to-day –
(Hey, but she sickens as the days go by!)
If I were the maid I should meet the lad half way –
(For I really do believe that timid youth will die!)

Poor little man!
Poor little maid!
Poor little man!
Poor little maid!
I thank you, miss/sir, for your counsel true;
I’ll tell that youth/maid what he/she ought to do!
Credits
Gilbert and Sullivan

Gilbert and Sullivan

About “I know a youth” by Gilbert and Sullivan

Read the complete lyrics to "I know a youth" by Gilbert and Sullivan from the album "Ruddigore". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"I know a youth" is performed by Gilbert and Sullivan. from the album "Ruddigore" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "I know a youth", explore more songs by Gilbert and Sullivan using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Gilbert and Sullivan · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"I know a youth" is credited to Gilbert and Sullivan. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"I know a youth" appears on "Ruddigore".

Visit the Gilbert and Sullivan artist page at /artist/gilbert-and-sullivan for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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