Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Andy Caine Lyrics

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 the greatest fools obey Because the Sun is far too sultry and one must avoid its ultra-violet rays
In hot places, there are specific times when everyone goes inside to undress and sweat. It's a practice that even the stupidest people follow because the sun is too hot, and the UV rays are dangerous.

The natives grieve when the White Men leave their huts Because they're obviously....definitely....Nuts!
When white men leave their houses, the natives are sad because they think the white men are crazy for going outside in the heat.

Mad dogs and 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 till one But Englishmen detest-a siesta
Crazy people and Englishmen go outside when the sun is hottest. The Japanese don't care, the Chinese are afraid, and Hindus and Argentines take a nap. But English people don't like taking naps.

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 o'clock the natives swoon and no further work is done But mad dogs and Englismen go out in the midday sun
In the Philippines, they have pretty screens to block out the sun. In the Malay States, they wear big hats that English people won't wear. But at noon, everyone else stops working, and only crazy people and English people continue to be outside.

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 topi on a tree
It's surprising to people from the East that English people, who seem weak, can handle the heat so well. When a white man rides by, the natives laugh because they hope he will hurt himself on a tree while wearing his silly sun hat.

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 Ho=ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho He-he-he-he-he-he-he Hm-hm-hm-hm-hm
It's a shame that English people act this way because it makes everyone laugh at them. The writer demonstrates this by laughing in different ways.

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
Even tough Burmese bandits don't understand why English people go out in the sun. In Rangoon, people avoid the heat at noon by putting down their drinks and taking a nap.

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
In a jungle town, the sun is so hot that it makes animals and people angry. The English clothes just get more wrinkled. In Bangkok, people get really excited and start running at noon, but English people just keep going outside in the heat.

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
Crazy people and Englishmen go outside when it's hottest. Even the smallest rabbit in Malaysia thinks this is a bad idea. In Hong Kong, they use a gong and a gun to remind tardy people that it's noon and they should have stayed inside.

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
Even in a swamp where there are dangerous snakes, everyone takes a break from noon to two. Even caribou just sleep because there's nothing else to do. People in Bengal hardly move at all. But crazy people and Englishmen still go outside, even in the hottest part of the day.