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I'll tell you what Englishmen are (Noel Coward)

Reader comment on item: An American in Search of the English National Character

Submitted by Ludvikus (United States), Feb 1, 2021 at 14:33

In tropical climes there are certain times of day
When all the citizens retire
To tear their clothes off and persprie.
It's one of those rules that the greatest fools obey,
Because the sun is much too sultry
And one must avoid its ultry-violet ray.
The native grieve when the white men leave their huts,
Because they're obviously definitely nuts!
Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun,
The Japanese don't care to.
The Chinese wouldn't dare to,
Hindoos and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one.
But Englishmen detest a siesta.
In the Philippines
There are lovely screens
To protect you from the glare.
In the Malay States
There are hats like plates
Which the Britishers won't wear.
At twelve noon
The natives swoon
And no further work is done.
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
It's such a surprise for the Eastern eyes to see
That though the English are effete,
They're quite impervious to heat,
When the white man rides every native hides in glee,
Because the simple creatures hope he
Will impale his solar topee on a tree.
It seems such a shame
When the English claim
The earth
That they give rise to such hilarity and mirth.
Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
The toughest Burmese bandit
Can never understand it.
In Rangoon the heat of noon
Is just what the natives shun.
They put their Scotch or Rye down
And lie down.
In a jungle town
Where the sun beats down
To the rage of man and beast
The English garb
Of the English sahib
Merely gets a bit more creased.
In Bangkok
At twelve o'clock
They foam at the mouth and run,
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
The smallest Malay rabbit
Deplores this foolish habit.
In Hongkong
They strike a gong
And fire off a noonday gun
To reprimand each inmate
Who's in late.
In the mangrove swamps
Where the python romps
There is peace from twelve till two.
Even caribous
Lie around and snooze;
For there's nothing else to do.
In Bengal
To move at all
Is seldom, if ever done.
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday sun.
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Noel Coward
Mad Dogs and Englishmen lyrics © Chappell Music Ltd

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Reader comments (20) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1English people are the perfect mix of western europeans features [387 words]Andrea BortolamiMar 8, 2021 14:52264575
English Commonwealth Sacrified for Globalist Ambitions of Wealth [295 words]M ToveyMar 8, 2021 18:57264575
PM Johnson Forced to Concede New Conservative Movement in England Cannot Function in Minority Fashion [294 words]M ToveyJul 7, 2022 11:49264575
I'll tell you what Englishmen are (Noel Coward) [425 words]LudvikusFeb 1, 2021 14:33263453
3Some Observations on English National Character [334 words]SophieJan 25, 2021 19:21263176
2What you missed [26 words]JohnJan 25, 2021 16:44263166
2What's it say when you can laugh at yourself? [79 words]JeffJan 24, 2021 17:44263144
4The greatest contribution of the British to the human species [105 words]SteinJan 24, 2021 10:22263136
Of Being British; Without Being an Englander [510 words]M ToveyJan 23, 2021 18:03263109
Chesterton on Englishness [30 words]Ann FarmerJan 23, 2021 16:38263104
3Bulldog to lapdog [65 words]waljayJan 23, 2021 15:48263102
The British [284 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AlexeiJan 23, 2021 15:21263100
England re-emerging as a distinct political entity? How so? [23 words]DongJan 24, 2021 17:12263100
England is the only Home Nation in the United Kingdom without a Devolved National Assembly [175 words]Andrew BaldwinFeb 1, 2021 12:32263100
Searching for English/British Basis for American Take on Lost Foundational Values [393 words]M ToveyFeb 2, 2021 16:06263100
The English character today [56 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jeffrey S SheffJan 23, 2021 13:20263092
1Not British now [47 words]Bikinis not BurkasJan 23, 2021 13:11263091
1Creighton, Brexit and cricket [337 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
MalcolmJan 23, 2021 12:15263088
The British are becoming more sexual [106 words]HalJan 24, 2021 10:49263088
2No one national character, just great English values [316 words]DaveJan 23, 2021 11:49263086

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