(Ellen Orford has come in. She is a widow of about 40. Her children have died, or grown
up and gone away, and in her loneliness she has become the Borough schoolmistress. A
hard life has not hardened her. It has made her the more charitable.)
Hobson
I have to go from pub to pub
Picking up parcels, standing about.
My journey back is late at night.
Mister, find some other way
To bring your boy back.
Chorus
He's right. Dirty jobs!
Hobson
Mister, find some other way...
Ellen
Carter! I'll mind your passenger.
Chorus
What! And be Grimes's messenger? You?
Ellen
Whatever you say, I'm not ashamed.
Somebody must do the job.
The carter goes from pub to pub,
Picking up parcels, standing about.
The boy needs comfort late at night,
He needs a welcome on the road,
Coming here strange he'll be afraid.
I'll mind your passenger!
Ned
Mrs. Orford is talking sense.
Chorus
Ellen - you're leading us a dance,
Fetching boys of Peter Grimes,
Because the Borough is afraid
You who help will share the blame.
up and gone away, and in her loneliness she has become the Borough schoolmistress. A
hard life has not hardened her. It has made her the more charitable.)
Hobson
I have to go from pub to pub
Picking up parcels, standing about.
My journey back is late at night.
Mister, find some other way
To bring your boy back.
Chorus
He's right. Dirty jobs!
Hobson
Mister, find some other way...
Ellen
Carter! I'll mind your passenger.
Chorus
What! And be Grimes's messenger? You?
Ellen
Whatever you say, I'm not ashamed.
Somebody must do the job.
The carter goes from pub to pub,
Picking up parcels, standing about.
The boy needs comfort late at night,
He needs a welcome on the road,
Coming here strange he'll be afraid.
I'll mind your passenger!
Ned
Mrs. Orford is talking sense.
Chorus
Ellen - you're leading us a dance,
Fetching boys of Peter Grimes,
Because the Borough is afraid
You who help will share the blame.