At the Music Hall: Mad Dogs and Englishmen, 1932

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.

English playwright, composer, actor, singer and director Noel Coward was known for his wit and talent. His clever lyrics and complicated melodies charmed audiences throughout his entire career and his was responsible for composing some of the most culturally significant songs of the Twentieth Century.

His 1932 song, Mad Dogs and Englishman, quickly became a popular favorite. It’s humorous statement about the intrepidness of the English when visiting foreign lands was as comic as it was relevant and true. He wrote the song without aid of pen or piano while traveling in Hanoi. Working out the complex song in his head, he triumphantly recited it from memory to his companion and later noted, “I wrestled in my mind with the complicated rhythms and rhymes of the song until finally it was complete, without even the aid of pencil and paper. I sang it triumphantly and unaccompanied to my travelling companion on the verandah of a small jungle guest house. Not only Jeffrey [Amherst], but the gecko lizards and the tree frogs gave every vocal indication of enthusiasm.”Mad Dogs and Englishmen was featured in the show, Words and Music, but quickly developed a life of its own, being sung in music halls and pubs alike. Its humorous lyrics and rousing melody still delight audiences today. 

At the Music Hall: If Love Were All, 1929

Image from "When Legends Gather."

I believe in doing what I can
In crying when I must
In laughing when I choose
Hey ho, if love were all
I should be lonely.

I believe the more you love a man,
The more you give your trust,
The more you're bound to lose.

Although when shadows fall
I think if only
Somebody splendid really needed me
Someone affectionate and dear
Cares would be ended if I knew that he
Wanted to have me near.

But I believe that since my life began
The most I've had is just a talent to amuse.
Hey ho, if love were all. 



Noël Coward published “If Love Were All” in 1929. He’d written this self-conscious song of loneliness for the operetta, “Bitter Sweet.” Many feel that the lyrics are somewhat autobiographical and speak of Coward’s thoughts of his own life. The song also had great meaning for Judy Garland who performed it as part of her Carnegie Hall shows. 

At the Music Hall: “Parisian Pierrot,: 1923

Gertrude Lawrence

Parisian pierrot, society’s hero
The lord of the day, the Rue de la Paix
Is under your sway
The world may flatter but what does that matter?
They’ll never shatter your bloom profound
Parisian pierrot, your spirit’s at zero
Divinely forlorn, with exquisite scorn
From sunset to dawn
The limbo is calling, your star will be falling
As soon as the clock goes round

Parisian pierrot, your spirit’s at zero
Divinely forlorn, with exquisite scorn
From sunset to dawn
The limbo is calling, your star will be falling
As soon as the clock goes round 

This popular song with music and lyrics by Noël Coward is known to many of us from its appearance in the film “Star!” which starred Julie Andrews as Coward’s longtime friend, Gertrude Lawrence. However, the song was one of Coward’s most memorable long before Miss Andrews turn in the biopic. Coward debuted “Parisian Pierrot” as well as a host of others in the 1923 musical revue “London Calling!” which was produced by André Charlot.

“London Calling!” opened in London's Duke of York's Theatre on September 4, 1923. It was famous Noël Coward's first publicly produced musical. The revue caused quite a sensation, not only for its music, but also for incorporating a 3-D stereoscopic shadowgraph during the opening act.

"Parisian Pierrot", as sung by Gertrude Lawrence, was Coward's first huge hit and, consequently, it became one of his signature tunes—a song which her performed himself until his death. We have two versions here. One as performed by Coward and, the other, a clip from “Star!”

At the Music Hall: If Love Were All, 1929

Image from "When Legends Gather."

I believe in doing what I can
In crying when I must
In laughing when I choose
Hey ho, if love were all
I should be lonely.

I believe the more you love a man,
The more you give your trust,
The more you're bound to lose.

Although when shadows fall
I think if only
Somebody splendid really needed me
Someone affectionate and dear
Cares would be ended if I knew that he
Wanted to have me near.

But I believe that since my life began
The most I've had is just a talent to amuse.
Hey ho, if love were all. 



Noël Coward published “If Love Were All” in 1929. He’d written this self-conscious song of loneliness for the operetta, “Bitter Sweet.” Many feel that the lyrics are somewhat autobiographical and speak of Coward’s thoughts of his own life. The song also had great meaning for Judy Garland who performed it as part of her Carnegie Hall shows. 

At the Music Hall: “Parisian Pierrot,: 1923

Gertrude Lawrence

Parisian pierrot, society’s hero
The lord of the day, the Rue de la Paix
Is under your sway
The world may flatter but what does that matter?
They’ll never shatter your bloom profound
Parisian pierrot, your spirit’s at zero
Divinely forlorn, with exquisite scorn
From sunset to dawn
The limbo is calling, your star will be falling
As soon as the clock goes round

Parisian pierrot, your spirit’s at zero
Divinely forlorn, with exquisite scorn
From sunset to dawn
The limbo is calling, your star will be falling
As soon as the clock goes round 

This popular song with music and lyrics by Noël Coward is known to many of us from its appearance in the film “Star!” which starred Julie Andrews as Coward’s longtime friend, Gertrude Lawrence. However, the song was one of Coward’s most memorable long before Miss Andrews turn in the biopic. Coward debuted “Parisian Pierrot” as well as a host of others in the 1923 musical revue “London Calling!” which was produced by André Charlot.

“London Calling!” opened in London's Duke of York's Theatre on September 4, 1923. It was famous Noël Coward's first publicly produced musical. The revue caused quite a sensation, not only for its music, but also for incorporating a 3-D stereoscopic shadowgraph during the opening act.

"Parisian Pierrot", as sung by Gertrude Lawrence, was Coward's first huge hit and, consequently, it became one of his signature tunes—a song which her performed himself until his death. We have two versions here. One as performed by Coward and, the other, a clip from “Star!”

At the Music Hall: Mad Dogs and Englishmen, 1932

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.

English playwright, composer, actor, singer and director Noel Coward was known for his wit and talent. His clever lyrics and complicated melodies charmed audiences throughout his entire career and his was responsible for composing some of the most culturally significant songs of the Twentieth Century.

His 1932 song, Mad Dogs and Englishman, quickly became a popular favorite. It’s humorous statement about the intrepidness of the English when visiting foreign lands was as comic as it was relevant and true. He wrote the song without aid of pen or piano while traveling in Hanoi. Working out the complex song in his head, he triumphantly recited it from memory to his companion and later noted, “I wrestled in my mind with the complicated rhythms and rhymes of the song until finally it was complete, without even the aid of pencil and paper. I sang it triumphantly and unaccompanied to my travelling companion on the verandah of a small jungle guest house. Not only Jeffrey [Amherst], but the gecko lizards and the tree frogs gave every vocal indication of enthusiasm.”

Mad Dogs and Englishmen was featured in the show, Words and Music, but quickly developed a life of its own, being sung in music halls and pubs alike. Its humorous lyrics and rousing melody still delight audiences today.

At the Music Hall: Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?




Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence
in The Red Peppers from
Tonight at 8:30, 1935

 

Has anybody seen our ship?

The H.M.S. Peculiar

We've been on shore for a month or more
And when we see the Captain
We should get what for

Heave ho, me hearties
Sing Glory, Hallelujah

A lady bold as she could be
Pinched our whistles at the Golden Key
Now, we're in between the devil and the big blue sea
Has anybody seen our ship?

In 1935, celebrated composer, playwright, actor, director and general bon vivant Noel Coward introduced a series of ten short plays collectively entitled Tonight at 8:30. The cycle was intended to be performed over a three night period. The cycle opened in Manchester and played in London, New York and Canada until 1938. Since then, many revivals have popped up.

Originally, Gertrude Lawrence played opposite Noel Coward (who rather enjoyed performing in his own plays). One of the ten plays was called, The Red Peppers and centered around a husband and wife musical act. For this comic tale of theatrical dysfunction, Coward wrote two new songs in the style of traditional music hall numbers. One of these was Has Anybody Seen Our Ship? Coward and Lawrence performed the song dressed as sailors—in character as George and Lily Pepper. Audiences enjoyed the song, but especially the Vaudevillian patter between the verses.

In the 1968 film, Star!, based on the life of Gertrude Lawrence, Julie Andrews and Daniel Massey perform Has Anybody Seen Our Ship? as Coward and Lawrence. For today, however, we’ll go to the original source. Enjoy this 1935 recording of Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence performing Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?