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 ultry 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 and Englishmen Go out in the midday sun!
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 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 twleve'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 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!