English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the Off-Broadway musical.

Lane:
If the nobility ever
Got into the habit
Of paying off their debts, well!
That would be a most dreadfully
Bothersome state of affairs!

If nobody bought anything
Things would just pile up and wouldn’t that be a bother?
We can’t buy much
Using just money
So that’s why the nobility has to have debts!

The debts inherited from prior generations
Prop up this country’s economy!
That’s right: you could call it
A British tradition!

Raise your cup of tea in praise
Of our nobility!
Come now, raise your cup!
Without the nobility we couldn’t survive–
That’s the British system!

Greengrocer:
Damn it, I could cry!
This is too much!

Tobacconist:
I’ve been waiting 13 years for this bill to be paid off!

Creditors:
The nobles do fine living off their checks
But it’s not as if we
Can eat a signature
The nobles might be blessed with riches
But that’s because they borrow from everyone else!
They don’t work and just live indolently:
Are we supposed to forgive that?