-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mad Dogs and Englishmen Noel Coward
---------------------------------------------------------------- 1931---------------
Tabbed by: Mike Lydiat
E-mail: [email protected]
Tuning:EADGBE
You can hear the chords for this song on Sound Cloud:
https://soundcloud.com/toffee-music/sets/cats-and-mandolins/
VERSE CHORD SHAPES CHORUS CHORD SHAPES
A G F E Bm7 E7 F#m C# Ab A D Bm7 E7 E B7 A Amaj7 A7 B Bmaj7 B7 F#m C#7 Bm G9 A
e|-5-3-1-0-2---0--2---4--4--|-0-2-2---0--0-2--0-0-----0--2-2-----2--2---x---2--3--5-|
B|-5-3-1-0-3---3--2---6--4--|-2-3-3---3--0-0--2-2-----2--4-4-----4--2---2---3--3--5-|
G|-6-4-2-1-2---1--2---6--5--|-2-2-2---1--1-2--2-1-----0--4-3-----2--2---4---4--4--6-|
D|-7-5-3-2-4---0--4---6--6--|-2-0-4---0--2-1--2-2-----2--4-4-----4--4---3---4--5--7-|
A|-7-5-3-2-2---2--4---4--6--|-0-x-2---2--2-2--0-0-----0--2-2-----2--4---4---2--5--7-|
E|-5-3-1-0-2---0--2---4--4--|-x-x-2---0--0-x--x-x-----x--2-2-----2--2---x---2--3--5-|
[VERSE 1]
A G F E A
In tropical climes there are certain times of day
E7 A E7 A Bm7 E7
When all the citizens retire, to tear their clothes off and perspire.
A G F E F#m
It's one of those rules that the biggest fools obey,
C# Ab C# Bm7 E7 A
Because the sun is far too sultry and one must avoid its ultry-violet ray
A G F E F#m
The natives grieve when the white men leave their huts,
E7 A E7 A E A
Because they're obviously, definitely nuts
[CHORUS 1]
A D A Bm7 E7 A
Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
E A B7 E
The Japanese don't care to, the Chinese wouldn't dare to,
A D A Bm7 E7 A
Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from 12 to one,
E B7 E E7
But Englishmen detest a siesta,
A Amaj7 A7 D
In the Philippines there are lovely screens, to protect you from the glare,
B Bmaj7 B7 E
In the Malay states there are hats like plates, which the Britishers won't wear,
D E A F#m C#7 F#m
At twelve noon the natives swoon, and no further work is done
Bm A G9 A
But Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
[VERSE 2]
A G F E A
It's such a surprise for the Eastern eyes to see,
E7 A E7 A Bm E7
That though the English are effete they're quite impervious to heat,
A G F E F#m
When a white man rides, every native hides in glee,
C# Ab C# Bm7 E7 A
Because the simple creatures hope he will impale his solar topee on a tree.
A G F E F#m
It seems such a shame that when the English claim the earth
E7 A E7 A E A
That they give rise to such hilarity and mirth
[CHORUS 2]
A D A Bm7 E7 A
Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
E A B7 E
The smallest Malay rabbit deplores this foolish habit.
A D A Bm7 E7 A
In Hong Kong, they strike a gong, and fire off a noonday gun.
E B7 E E7
To reprimand each inmate, who's in late.
A Amaj7 A7 D
In the jungle town where the sun beats down, to the rage of man and beast,
B Bmaj7 B7 E
The English garb of the English sahib merely gets a bit more creased.
D E A F#m C#7 F#m
In Bangkok, at twelve o'clock, they foam at the mouth and run,
Bm A G9 A
But Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
[VERSE 3]
A G F E A
The Indian Raj is a region large and hot
E7 A E7 A Bm E7
Where tigers roam around in bands - the white man never understands
A G F E F#m
When the noon-day sun makes the natives run, it's not
C# Ab C# Bm7 E7 A
A good idea to ignore them or to simply quite deplore their Tommy A Rot
A G F E F#m
When sepoys and their wives flee from the sun,
E7 A E7 A E A
The crazy white man thinks it's simply ripping fun that . . .
[CHORUS 3]
A D A Bm7 E7 A
Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
E A B7 E
The toughest Burmese bandit can never understand it.
A D A Bm7 E7 A
In Rangoon the heat of noon is just what the natives shun.
E B7 E E7
They put their scotch or rye down, and lie down.
A Amaj7 A7 D
In the mangrove swamps where the python romps there is peace from twelve till two.
B Bmaj7 B7 E
Even caribous lie around and snooze, for there's nothing else to do.
D E A F#m C#7 F#m
In Bengal, to move at all, is seldom if ever done,
Bm A G9 A
But Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday, out in the midday, out in the midday sun.
