Manru is an opera (lyrical drama) in three acts, music by Ignacy Jan Paderewski composed to the libretto by Alfred Nossig (English translation by Henry Edward Krehbiel), based on the novel A Hut Behind the Village (1843) by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski.
The opera received its first performance (world premiere) in Dresden May 29, 1901 (sung in German, Ernst von Schuch conducting), followed by the Polish premiere in Lwow on June 8, 1901, and Teatr Wielki, Warsaw on May 24, 1902.
The American premiere (sung in English) took place on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House on February 14, 1902, with the debut of Alexander von Bandrowski in the title role, Walter Damrosch conducting (good friend of the composer). The opera initially received an enthusiastic reception, with the premiere being marked as "one of high distinction." Nevertheless, predominantly due to a badly written libretto, it received only 9 performances in the season 1901/1902 (of which 4 performances were staged in New York City) and was never revived there since.
I MADE A ROCK'N'ROLL
WHEN I TRIED GIVIN' IN, TO MAKE MONEY HAD TO TURN DOWN LOW
THEY SAID, "WHY BE PROUD, DON'T PLAY SO LOUD, BE LIKE US
AND GET A SOUND THAT'S REAL THIN
WEAR A POLYESTER SUIT, ACT HAPPY, LOOK CUTE, GET A HAIRCUT
AND BUY SMALL GEAR"
THAT'S WHEN I TURNED TO THEM AND SAID, HOLD IT, RIGHT THERE
WELL IT'S MORE TO ME THAN JUST A JOB, AND WHILE I'M PLAYIN'
YOU WON'T GET ROBBED
NOBODY TELLS A MAN HOW TO PLAY, IT JUST AIN'T THAT WAY
HEY, HEY, HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME SAY
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN
I'M JET FUEL HONEY, PLUG ME INTO 220, STEP BACK AND LET
MY FINGERS FLY
WHILE I'M BURNING UP MY GEAR, THERE'S A FIRE IN YOUR EAR
THAT WON'T STOP UNTIL THE DAY YOU DIE
I REALLY PUT IT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I HEAR THE CROWD ROAR
OH, IT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS WHEN THEY SCREAM
THEN I RUN BACK THE POWER RACK AND DECK, ALL OF MY GEAR
WELL IT'S MORE TO ME THAN JUST A JOB, AND WHILE I'M PLAYING
YOU WON'T GET ROBBED
NOBODY TELLS A MAN HOW TO PLAY, IT JUST AIN'T THAT WAY
HEY, HEY, HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME SAY
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN
WELL IT'S MORE TO ME THAN JUST A JOB, AND WHILE I'M PLAYING
YOU WON'T GET ROBBED
NOBODY TELLS A MAN HOW TO PLAY, IT JUST AIN'T THAT WAY
HEY, HEY, HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME SAY
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN