Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Space Lyrics

In tropical climes there are certain times of day When all the citizens retire To tear their clothes off and perspire. It's one of those rules that the greatest fools obey, Because the sun is much too sultry And one must avoid its ultra-violet ray.
In hot countries, there are certain times of day when all the people go inside to take off their clothes and sweat because it's too hot outside, and only the biggest fools would stay out in the sun because it's dangerous.

The native grieve when the white men leave their huts, Because they're obviously definitely nuts!
When the white people leave their homes, the natives are sad and think the white people are crazy for going outside in such hot weather.

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.
While everyone else is resting during the hottest time of day, only mad dogs and Englishmen go outside in the sun because the English hate taking naps.

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.
In some places, there are things like screens or hats that can protect you from the sun's harmful rays, but the British won't wear them.

At twelve noon The natives swoon And no further work is done. But mad dogs and Englishmen Go out in the midday sun.
During the hottest part of the day, everyone else stops working and rests, but the English and mad dogs keep going 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 topee on a tree.
People from the East are surprised that the English, who seem weak, can handle the heat, but they still hide when the English ride by because they hope the Englishman's sun hat will get stuck in a tree.

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.
Even the toughest bandits in Burma can't understand why the English go out in the midday heat, because everyone else in that area knows to avoid it.

Mad dogs and Englishmen Go out in the midday sun. The smallest Malay rabbit Deplores this stupid habit.
Even the smallest animals know that the English habit of going outside in the hottest part of the day is stupid.

In Hongkong They strike a gong And fire off a noonday gun To reprimand each inmate Who's in late.
In Hong Kong, they ring a bell and fire a gun at noon to punish anyone who is still outside during the hottest time of day.

In Bengal To move at all Is seldom, if ever done. But mad dogs and Englishmen Go out in the midday sun.
In Bengal, no one moves during the hottest part of the day, but the English still go outside.