Noel Coward
Lyric guide

Mad Dogs And Englishmen

Read Mad Dogs And Englishmen lyrics by Noel Coward on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Noel Coward Canonical path: /noel-coward/mad-dogs-and-englishmen Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Mad Dogs And Englishmen

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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.

Papalaka papalaka papalaka boo,

Papalaka papalaka papalaka boo,

Digariga digariga digariga doo,

Digariga digariga digariga doo.

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.

Bolyboly bolyboly bolyboly baa,

Bolyboly bolyboly bolyboly baa,

Habaninny habaninny habaninny haa,

Habaninny habaninny habaninny haa.

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 stupid 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 sun.

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Who performs "Mad Dogs And Englishmen"?

Noel Coward performs "Mad Dogs And Englishmen", and this lyric page sits inside the Noel Coward catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Mad Dogs And Englishmen"?

Yes. The related section below points to Go Slowly Johnny and His Excellency Regrets with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Noel Coward?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Noel Coward's lyric pages.

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