Lyrics When a Felon's Not Engaged in His Employment - The Pirates Of Penzance

When a Felon's Not Engaged in His Employment

When a felon’s not engaged in his employment
Or maturing his felonious little plans
His capacity for innocent enjoyment
Is just as great as any honest man’s
Our feelings we with difficulty smother
When constabulary duty is to be done
Taking one consideration with another
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duties to be done, to be done
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one
When the enterprising burglar’s not a-burgling
When the cutthroat isn’t occupied in crime
He loves to hear the little brook a-gurgling
And listen to the merry village chime
When the coster’s finished jumping on his mother
He loves to lie a-basking in the sun
Taking one consideration with another
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duty’s to be done, to be done
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one
When the drunkard shows no sign of where the drink went
He nobly bids all alchohol farewell
When the juvenile delinquent to the clink went
He hung his mother’s picture in his cell
When the cardshark’s finished wiping out his brother
He buys a rattle for his little son
Taking one consideration with another
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duties to be done, to be done
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one