When I first listened to this song years ago, I thought it was very funny. Now, in 2021... I realize how true and frightening it is. Same as "Bad times just around the corner"
Noel Coward was a genius . . . one of the very best of many very fine 20th Century songwriters. His rendition of "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is hilarious!
Live on the CBS Television Network, 1955's version of 2019's Randy Rainbow, wearing the green carnation boutonniere homage to the Oscar Wilde 1890's version of himself, Noel Coward worries about the newly-hatched Baby Boomers like you and me. In this case, history repeats AND rhymes.
To tell you the truth, he is the one that totally changed my opinion about gay people. When I was a teenager, I was slightly prejudiced against them (well at least I found them a bit scary) (I hadn't met any, at the time). This absolutely fabulous man, changed my views completely. So much charm, masculinity, elegance, but also sensitivity, and emotion, to say nothing about his razor-sharp wit. I've been crazy about him since I first saw him sing Nina. I've watched most of his plays, read his autobiography, know many of his songs by heart, etc. Not to mention that since discovering him, I've realized that most of my favourite artists are gay (Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Kenneth Williams, John Inman, Stephen Fry, Elton John, Freddie Mercury etc). Dunno why, maybe because they have a better developed sensitive side, or smth.
Change Elsa Maxwell to -- I can't think of anyone comparable to her today -- and the lyrics to this nearly 70 year old song hit nearly every last one of today's problems!
Life today is hectic Our world is running away Only the wise can recognize The process of decay Unhappily all our dialectic Is quite unable to say Whether we'll ride supreme or not Whether we're on the beam or not Whether this new regime or not Is leading us astray. We all have frigidaires, radios, Television and movie shows To shield us from the ultimate abyss. We have our daily bread, neatly cut Every modern convenience but The problem that confronts us all is this: What's going to happen to the children When there aren't any more grownups? Having been injected With some rather unpleasant glands Darling mum is platinum And dances to all the rhumba bands. The songs that she sings at twilight Would certainly be the highlight For some of those clacks That Elsa Maxwell tours around in yachts So rockabye, rockabye, rockabye, my darlings Mother requires a few more shots Does it amuse the tiny mites To see their parents high as kites? What's, what's, what's Going to happen to the tots? Life today's neurotic A fruitless battle we wage Millions are spent to circumvent The march of middle age The fact that we grab each new narcotic Can only prove in the end Whether our hormones jell or not Whether our cells rebel or not Whether we're blown to hell or not We'll all be round the bend From taking Benzedrine, Dexamil, Every possible sleeping pill To knock us out or knock us into shape We all have shots for this, shots for that, Shots for keeping us thin or fat But there's one problem that we can't escape. What's going to happen to the children When there aren't any more grownups? Thanks to plastic surgery And uncle's abrupt demise Dear Aunt Rose has changed her nose But doesn't appear to realize That pleasures that once were heaven Look silly at sixty-seven And youthful allure you can't procure In terms of perms and pots. Oh, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, my darlings Try not to scratch those large red spots Think of the shock when Mummy's face Is lifted from its proper place What's, what's, what's Going to happen to the tots? What's going to happen to the children When there aren't any more grownups? It's bizarre when Grandmama Without getting out of breath Starts to jive at eighty-five And frightens the little ones to death The police had to send a squad car When Daddy got fried on vodka And tied a tweed coat round Mummy's throat In several sailor's knots Hushabye, hushabye, hushabye, my darlings Try not to fret and wet your cots One day you'll clench your tiny fists And murder your psychiatrists What's, what's, what's Going to happen to the tots?
the fact is that people dont realize what they are doing by supporting trump, supporting the racist things and those concentration camps they don't even know about. some times they are just brainwashed since childhood to obey. not as if these people know any better when they are supporting trump
triquetra system, if you believe the mainstream media’s narrative of the president, then you are the brainwashed one. I cannot imagine turning on the TV and believing what those liars say. Good luck.
When I first listened to this song years ago, I thought it was very funny.
Now, in 2021... I realize how true and frightening it is.
Same as "Bad times just around the corner"
Too true. It seems to most it's all cyclical and still controlled by the same rats.
Noel Coward was a genius . . . one of the very best of many very fine 20th Century songwriters. His rendition of "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is hilarious!
Prophetic beyond anything he could have imagined...A world without grown ups- that just about describes it !
It's a good social observation...like Don't let's be beastly to the germans...I think Noels social commentary is very powerful
NOBODY sang/sings Coward's songs like Coward himself! A great performance!
Such wit and an unparalleled vocabulary.
.
.
.
And not to mention he helped MI5 sniff out high-level Nazi sympathizers during the war, all the way up to the Duke of Windsor.
How Prophetic is this! as relevant today as it was then.
Meredith Foster yes
It just didnt change but only got worse
I had this memorized in the 70's with access to Cowardly Custard. It turns out I haven't forgotten a word.
Prophetic indeed. The only factor not predicted is social media.
He was a very clever and talented man, a sort of genius, really. Fifty years after his death and most people still know what "Cowardesque" means.
It’s 2021 and this is still relevant
Song for our times.
Wonderful!
Thanks!!!
I'm an Episcopalian Minister, and have always wanted to use portions of this song in a sermon. Maybe one day it will fit in to a theme.
How timeless!
Noel Coward was a real gent.
so already happening ... clever Noel
Great tune!
So fantastic.
Love him.
Squad caa / vodka. 😂
But seriously…whew. He sure saw it coming.
He had a time machine.
MrBelpin perhaps
Live on the CBS Television Network, 1955's version of 2019's Randy Rainbow, wearing the green carnation boutonniere homage to the Oscar Wilde 1890's version of himself, Noel Coward worries about the newly-hatched Baby Boomers like you and me. In this case, history repeats AND rhymes.
Good lord he was prescient.
And some call him evil because he was homosexual. 😕 But I say he knew what was what. It still is, alas.
To tell you the truth, he is the one that totally changed my opinion about gay people.
When I was a teenager, I was slightly prejudiced against them (well at least I found them a bit scary) (I hadn't met any, at the time).
This absolutely fabulous man, changed my views completely. So much charm, masculinity, elegance, but also sensitivity, and emotion, to say nothing about his razor-sharp wit. I've been crazy about him since I first saw him sing Nina.
I've watched most of his plays, read his autobiography, know many of his songs by heart, etc.
Not to mention that since discovering him, I've realized that most of my favourite artists are gay (Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Kenneth Williams, John Inman, Stephen Fry, Elton John, Freddie Mercury etc). Dunno why, maybe because they have a better developed sensitive side, or smth.
Great, forever.
Spitting rhyme like a good-un- The Master!
Now I must get up and get something to drink from the frigidaire.
Change Elsa Maxwell to -- I can't think of anyone comparable to her today -- and the lyrics to this nearly 70 year old song hit nearly every last one of today's problems!
Minor modifications, could be sung about Washington, Colorado, etc.
Noel Coward - genius. I don't know how he foresaw todays pathetic, crazy woke world without a crystal ball, but he did it. He nailed it one.
You don't understand him at all, do you, if you're complaining about 'woke.'
He does appear thicker than a Boxing Day turd.
This guy predicted the boomers perfectly
Ditto.
BARRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Please can write the lyric?
Life today is hectic
Our world is running away
Only the wise can recognize
The process of decay
Unhappily all our dialectic
Is quite unable to say
Whether we'll ride supreme or not
Whether we're on the beam or not
Whether this new regime or not
Is leading us astray.
We all have frigidaires, radios,
Television and movie shows
To shield us from the ultimate abyss.
We have our daily bread, neatly cut
Every modern convenience but
The problem that confronts us all is this:
What's going to happen to the children
When there aren't any more grownups?
Having been injected
With some rather unpleasant glands
Darling mum is platinum
And dances to all the rhumba bands.
The songs that she sings at twilight
Would certainly be the highlight
For some of those clacks
That Elsa Maxwell tours around in yachts
So rockabye, rockabye, rockabye, my darlings
Mother requires a few more shots
Does it amuse the tiny mites
To see their parents high as kites?
What's, what's, what's
Going to happen to the tots?
Life today's neurotic
A fruitless battle we wage
Millions are spent to circumvent
The march of middle age
The fact that we grab each new narcotic
Can only prove in the end
Whether our hormones jell or not
Whether our cells rebel or not
Whether we're blown to hell or not
We'll all be round the bend
From taking Benzedrine, Dexamil,
Every possible sleeping pill
To knock us out or knock us into shape
We all have shots for this, shots for that,
Shots for keeping us thin or fat
But there's one problem that we can't escape.
What's going to happen to the children
When there aren't any more grownups?
Thanks to plastic surgery
And uncle's abrupt demise
Dear Aunt Rose has changed her nose
But doesn't appear to realize
That pleasures that once were heaven
Look silly at sixty-seven
And youthful allure you can't procure
In terms of perms and pots.
Oh, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, my darlings
Try not to scratch those large red spots
Think of the shock when Mummy's face
Is lifted from its proper place
What's, what's, what's
Going to happen to the tots?
What's going to happen to the children
When there aren't any more grownups?
It's bizarre when Grandmama
Without getting out of breath
Starts to jive at eighty-five
And frightens the little ones to death
The police had to send a squad car
When Daddy got fried on vodka
And tied a tweed coat round Mummy's throat
In several sailor's knots
Hushabye, hushabye, hushabye, my darlings
Try not to fret and wet your cots
One day you'll clench your tiny fists
And murder your psychiatrists
What's, what's, what's
Going to happen to the tots?
Dan Bull sent me.
spoiler alertist
Well ' It looks like the Tots got blood clots........
So prescient
Sounds like today's democrat party.
Joan must be a Trump supporter. There's still a few of them left.
Sounds like Noel Coward would have been a Trump supporter, too.
the fact is that people dont realize what they are doing by supporting trump, supporting the racist things and those concentration camps they don't even know about. some times they are just brainwashed since childhood to obey. not as if these people know any better when they are supporting trump
triquetra system, if you believe the mainstream media’s narrative of the president, then you are the brainwashed one. I cannot imagine turning on the TV and believing what those liars say. Good luck.
@@jonnyquatromusic This aged well.
Spitting rhyme like a good-un - The Master!
Ditto.
So prescient
Spitting rhyme like a good-un - The Master!