Noël Coward - Mad Dogs and Englishmen Lyrics

1932 West End
Words and Music the Musical - Mad Dogs and Englishmen Lyrics


Music and lyrics by Noël Coward.

In tropical climes there are certain times of day
When all the citizens retire
To take their clothes off and perspire

It's one of those rules that the greatest fools obey
Because the sun is far too sultry
And one must avoid its ultra violet ray

The natives grieve when the white men leave   
Their huts because they're obviously,  
Definitely nuts

Mad dogs & Englishmen go out in the midday sun  
The Japanese don't care to,
The Chinese wouldn't dare to  
Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one,
But Englishmen detest a siesta  
In the Philippines they have 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 & 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
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
He, he, he, he, he, he, he, he
Hm, hm, hm, hm, hm, hm

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 native 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 Hong Kong 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 to 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 sun!



Review: Words and Music the Musical Lyrics


Words and Music the Musical Lyrics

Maggie
Let's Live Dangerously
Children of the Ritz
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Planters' Wives
Let's Say Good-bye
Mad About the Boy
Housemaids' Knees
Three White Feathers
Something to Do With Spring
The Wife of an Acrobat
The Younger Generation
Midnight Matinée
The Party's Over Now