Land of Might-Have-Been

Some of you may remember this from the movie GOSFORD PARK. It bears re-capturing ......

Ivor Novello: The Land of Might-Have-Been

As Edward Moore, Edward Marsh wrote the words to Ivor Novello's
song The Land of Might Have Been, (1924)

Somewhere there's another land different from this world below.
Far more mercifully planned than the cruel place we know.
Innocence and peace are there. All is good that is desired.
Faces there are always fair. Love grows never old nor tired.
We shall never find that lovely land of Might-Have-Been.
I shall never be your king nor you shall be my queen.
Days may pass and years may pass and seas may lie between.
We shall never find that lovely land of Might-Have-Been.
Sometimes on the rarest nights comes the vision calm and clear,
Gleaming with unearthly lights on my path of doubt and fear.
Winds from that far land are blown, whispering with secret breath.
Hope that plays her tune alone. Love that conquers pain and death.
Shall we ever find that lovely land of Might-Have-Been?
Will I ever be your king or you at last my queen?
Days may pass or years may pass, the seas my lie between.
Shall we ever find our lovely land of Might-Have-Been?

I seem to be the victim of a cruel jest.
It dogs my footsteps with the girl I love the best.
She's just the sweetest thing that I have ever known.
But still we never get the chance to be alone.
My car will meet her and her mother comes, too.
It's a two-seater, still her mother comes, too.
At Ciro's when I am free; at dinner, supper or tea,
She loves to shimmy with me and her mother does, too.
We buy her trousseau and her mother comes, too.
Asked not to do so, still her mother comes, too.
She simply can't take a snub. I go and sulk at the club.
And have a bath and a rub and her brother comes, too.
To golf we started and her mother came, too.
Three bags I carted when her mother came, too.
She fainted just off the tee. My darling whispered to me,
'Jack, dear, at last we are free.' But her mother came, too.

I can give you the starlight, love unchanging and true.
I can give you the ocean, deep and tender devotion.
I can give you the mountains, pools of shimmering blue.
Call and I can be all you ask of me.
Music in spring, flowers for a king;
All these I bring to you.
When I was young, my foolish fancies used to make a great mistake.
But now a little love, a little living has changed my ways
And taught me and brought me the joy of giving.
I can give you the starlight, love unchanging and true.
I can give you the ocean, deep and tender devotion.
I can give you the mountains, pools of shimmering blue.
Call and I can be all you ask of me.
Music in spring, flowers for a king;
All these I bring to you.

In B.C. 33 Ah, me! That's a dash long time ago.
There lived a Roman hero who had shaken hands with Nero.
And the history you shall know.
He was introduced to the king of Gaul, whoever that might be.
And crossing in galley with a Norman wench got pally
They went and founded me.
So if you wonder what a duke should be,
Just you take another look at me.
I'm doubty, I'm gouty, I'm wonderful to see.
All my people 'pon my soul it's true.
Look on Noah as a parvenu.
By gad, you can search your family tree,
But you'll never find a duke like me.
When old Canute was buying fruit one day, so runs the tale.
A young convicted felon brought him a juicy melon.
And was then released from jail.
This noble youth to tell the truth,
Sailed right away to sea.
And the Duke of Malta's daughter brought up his shaving water.
And the grand result was me.
So if you wonder what a duke should be,
Just you take another look at me.
I'm doubty, I'm gouty, I'm wonderful to see.
All my people 'pon my soul it's true.
Look on Noah as a parvenu.
By gad, you can search your family tree,
But you'll never find a duke like me.
So if you wonder what a duke could be,
Just you take another look at me.
I'm doubty, I'm gouty, I'm wonderful to see.
All my people 'pon my soul it's true.
Look on Noah as a parvenu.
By gad, you can search your family tree,
But you'll never find- you'll never find- you'll never find a duke like me.

We're both undoubtedly sane.
We're not so horribly plain.
Something is wrong, but who can tell us what.
There's no accounting for taste.
It seems a terrible waste.
Nothing can help us. We have not that vital spark we should have got.
Why isn't it you?
Why must we miss a chance like this when chances are few?
You've got the size of eyes I idolize.
Your arms invite a glamorous night.
What am I to do? Why isn't it you?
You don't react when I attract. What am I to do?
You've got the lips for me, the hips for me, the feet for me and the beat for me.
So tell me why, why isn't it you?
Why isn't it you?
Why must we miss a chance like this when chances are few?
You've got the size of eyes I idolize.
Your arms invite a glamorous night.
What am I to do? Why isn't it you?
You don't react when I attract what am I to do?
You've got the lips for me, the hips for me, the feet for me and the beat for me.
So tell me why-