I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General with Lyrics

I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General with Lyrics, from the 1983 DVD of the Broadway production of The Pirates Of Penzance.

Performed by George Rose.

Lyrics added so we can follow along and TRY to keep up!

[joeymadara]

Bars. Absolute bars. Classic

Let's not over look that xylophone player either lmao dude was shredding

[dr.bright]

Moral of the story is don't play 20 Questions with the Modern Major General

[harlankrissoff]

He is the best one with this, his stopping to think of rhyming words and the repeat of the chorus so quickly- just a masterpiece. Too bad he was not in the movie version.

[douglasbabb]

I read somewhere that the song can be interpreted in one of two ways:

1) This man belongs anywhere that isn't in the military or
2) What qualifications this man has outside of the military are either unimpressive or impossible.

Personally, I think the first is funnier.

[BogusmanTheSwagman]

How anyone can sing this without exploding is beyond me.

[evelynn]

When your friends have a karaoke night and you plan on destroying them all.

[isle-unto-thyself]

I will not rest until I've memorized this song. I did One Week by Bare Naked Ladies, I did Crazy Food by Joe Hawley, I did Black Box Warrior by Will Wood, this should be simple aswell.

[peteralfano]

So
If I'm understanding older english correctly
This guy's an expert in so much stuff but only knows a bit of strategy and that somehow qualifies as a perfect major general

[CrossbowManD]

The accompaniment in this performance is unique. Love it

[bon]

My brain would MELT trying to memorize those lyrics.

[My_name_is_Luc]

I'm memorizing this
I've memorized all the way up to "Then I can write a washing bill in babylonic cuneiform"
Imgonna comment again when I'm done.

[Irockthere]

Brilliant performance and live on stage

[mfranssens]

Brilliant rendition. Not the easiest song to sing.

[NEFFIBLE]

Superb performance Sir. A part You were born to play. BRILLIANT! BRAVO!
ENCORE 👏

[timdogdawg]

That was as cold as ice...a proper drop the mic finish! 😎👌

[gadero]

Fortunate to see Mr. Rose perform in Pirates way back then both in Shakespeare in the Park as well as the Broadway version. A theatrical highlight! Incredible.

[JohnNewsham]

asking the dude to Q this up at the local karaoke when im 10+ beers beers in

[txgunguy]

Ain't real hard to tell a Mauser rifle from a Javalin by sight.
However, it's dang near impossible to sing this song through in 1 take at this speed.

[nbuehster]

I don't know how many parodies there are of this, but there needs to be one about someone who's a geek. (probably something along the lines if "I am the very model of a modern (???) individual!")

[charmzapanta]

WOW AMAZING PERFORMANCE, I wanted to sing all the lyrics correctly and I don't I can make it, the correct rhythm and all! OH BOY it takes a Genius performer like him.