What So The Simple Folk Do

verse 1 What do the simple folk do To help them escape when they’re blue The shepherd who is ailing The milkmaid who is glum The cobbler who is wailing From nailing his thumb When they’re beset and be-sieged The folk not noblessely obliged However do they manage To shed their weary l-o-t Oh w-h-a-t  do simple folk do We do not I have been informed By those who know them well They find relief in quite a clever way     When they’re sorely pressed They whistle for a spell And whistling seems to brighten up their day And t-h-a-t-’-s what simple folk do So they say    They whistle? So they say verse 2 What else do the simple folk do To perk up the heart and get through The wee folk and the grown folk Who wander to and fro Have ways known to their own folk   We throne folk don’t know When all the doldrums be-gin What keeps each of them in his skin What ancient native custom Provides the needed glow   Oh  w - h-a-t   do simple folk do Do you know Once along a road   I came upon a lad Singing in a voice three times his size    When I asked him why He told me he was sad And singing always made his spirits rise So  t-h-a-t-’-s what simple folk do I surmise   They sing? I surmise Bridge: Arise my love! Arise my love! Apollo’s lighting the skies my love The meadows shine with columbine And daffodils blossom away verse 3 What else do the simple folk do They must have a system or two They obviously outshine us At turning tears to mirth Have tricks a royal highness   Is minus from birth What then I wonder do they To chase all the goblins away They have some tribal sorc’ry You haven’t mentioned yet   Oh  w - h-a-t  do simple folk do To forget Often I am told They dance a fiery dance And whirl ’til they’re completely uncontrolled Soon the mind is blank And all are in a trance A vi’lent trance astounding to behold And t-h-a-t-’-s  what simple folk do So I’m told verse 4 What else do the simple folk do To help them escape when they’re blue    They sit around and wonder What royal folk would do And t-h-a-t-’-s  what simple folk do    Really? I have it on the best authority Yes t-h-a-t-’-s  what simple folk do Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe