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Posted by ESC on October 31, 1999

In Reply to: Oops. I take that back posted by Bob on October 31, 1999

: : : : I know about the band, but where did the phrase come from,a poem? Thanks for any help.

: : : In Familiar Quotations by John Bartlett, it is attributed to Noel Coward (1899-1973) from Mad Dogs and Englishmen. The full quote is "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun." I don't know if the phrase is original with Mr. Coward. I thought it was a comment by the natives, who knew how to sensibly deal with the heat.

: : The full title to the song is "Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen Go Out in the Mid-day Sun."

: I was mis-remembering the lyrics from my youth. The title of the clever little patter song actually IS "Mad Dogs and Englishmen." I found a website where you can hear Noel Coward singing it in his inimitable fashion:
: members.aol.com/ noelcow2/maddogs.wav
: it takes a while to upload, but it's a lot of fun.

That's really swingin'! Thanks for that musical moment.

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