Malvolio's Tango — Malvolio, Olivia, Maria, Toby Lyrics

Malvolio's Tango Song Lyrics

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MALVOLIO
MY LADY CALLS...?

OLIVIA
Malvolio?! Is that you?

MALVOLIO
DOES MY LADY BLUSH
TO SEE ME YELLOW IN MY LEG,
AFTER SHE WAS PURPLE IN HER PROSE?
DOES THE BLOOD NOT RUSH
TO BRING A CRIMSON TO HER CHEEK?
DOES SHE FEEL A TINGLE IN HER TOES,
AS I MIGHT
WERE THE STRAPS NOT SO TIGHT?
WHAT STRANGE NEW COLORS ARE THESE
THAT PASSION DARES TO PAINT?
ARE YOU FEELIHNG FAINT?
WELL, NEVER FEAR...

FOR HERE I AM,
READY TO BE COMMANDED,
PRIVY TO CERTAIN PREF'RENCES
YOU CUNNINGLY CONVEYED.
CLEARLY, MA'AM,
ALL IS TO BE COMMENDED.
AS YOU CAN SEE,
ORDERS WILL BE OBEYED.

OLIVIA
What's gotten into you, Malvolio?

MARIA
Why do you behave with such ridiculous boldness?

MALVOLIO
"BE NOT AFRAID,"
THAT'S WHAT SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME.
I'M NOT AFRAID,
BUT I STILL MAY NEED SOMEONE TO HOLD ME.

YESTERDAY, THE TRUSTED SERVANT,
UNDER YOUR CONTROL,
WORTHY NOT TO TOUCH MY LADY'S GLOVE.
ALL AT ONCE I'M THRUST
INTO A MORE EXALTED ROLE,
LIFTED UP TO SERVE YOU FROM ABOVE,
OR BESIDE,
OR PERHAPS FROM ASTRIDE.
WHAT STRANGE NEW POSES ARE THESE
THAT SOON WE TWO MAY STRIKE?
USE ME AS YOU LIKE
I'M STILL YOUR SLAVE.
AND IF I SHOULD MISBEHAVE...

OLIVIA
I think perhaps you ought to go to bed, Malvolio.

MALVOLIO
To bed...? Ay, madam!
(sings)
HERE I AM,
READY TO DO YOUR BIDDING,
HAPPY TO HAVE YOUR PILLOWS FLUFFED,
YOUR LINES FRESHLY LAID.
DEAR, MY LAMB,
I WILL ARRANGE YOUR BEDDING.
CALL UPON ME -
ORDERS WILL BE OBEYED.

OLIVIA
Maria, go fetch Sir Toby and have him look to this fellow. The man requires some special kind of attention. He is very
important to this house and I would not risk losing him.

MALVOLIO
"Have Sir Toby look to this fellow," she said. Not "this man" or "this steward," but "fellow"...
(sings)
YESTERDAY THE LOWLY STEWARD AT THEIR BECK AND CALL,
SCAMP'RING OFF TO FETCH SIR TOBY'S TEA.
LITTLE DOES SIR TOBY KNOW HE'S RIDING FOR A FALL
AND FROM NOW ON HE WILL TEND TO ME.

TOBY
Malvolio, my niece has asked that I take special care of you.

MALVOLIO
I am aware. And I trust that some new accommodations have been prepared for me.

TOBY
It's been arranged.

MALVOLIO
Then you may conduct me thither.
(sings)
FATE TO SOME
DELIVERS THE LIFE THEY COVET.
ALL IT DEMANDS IS FEARLESSNESS
TO SEE YOUR FORTUNE MADE.
FEET GROW NUMB
BRAVELY, I THINK NOT OF IT
WHEN I RETIRE,
MY TOES MAY REQUIRE SOME AID.
BUT LUCKY FOR ME,
ORDERS WILL BE OBEYED.

[Thanks to Sara for lyrics]