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noël coward - there are bad times just around the corner lyrics

verse 1

they’re out of sorts in sunderland
and terribly cross in kent
they’re dull in hull
and the isle of mull
is seething with discontent
they’re nervous in northumberland
and devon is down the drain
they’re filled with wrath
on the firth of forth
and sullen on salisbury plain
in dublin they’re depressed, lads
maybe because they’re celts
for drake is going west, lads
and so is everyone else
hurray-hurray-hurray!
misery’s here to stay

refrain 1

there are bad times just around the corner
there are dark clouds hurtling through the sky
and it’s no good whining
about a silver lining
for we know from experience that they won’t roll by
with a scowl and a frown
we’ll keep our p-ck-rs down
and prepare for depression and doom and dread
we’re going to unpack our troubles from our old kit bag
and wait until we drop down dead

verse 2

from portland bill to scarborough
they’re querulous and subdued
and shropshire lads
have behaved like cads
from berwick-on-tweed to bude
they’re mad at market harborough
and livid at leigh-on-sea
in tunbridge wells
you can hear the yells
of woe-begone bourgeoisie
we all get b-tched about, lads
whoever our vote elects
we know we’re up the spout, lads
and that’s what england expects
hurray-hurray-hurray!
trouble is on the way

refrain 2

there are bad times just around the corner
the horizon’s gloomy as can be
there are black birds over
the grayish cliffs of dover
and the rats are preparing to leave the b.b.c
we’re an unhappy breed
and very bored indeed
when reminded of something that nelson said
while the press and the politicians nag nag nag
we’ll wait until we drop down dead

verse 3

from colwyn bay to kettering
they’re sobbing themselves to sleep
the shrieks and wails
in the yorkshire dales
have even depressed the sheep
in rather vulgar lettering
a very disgruntled group
have posted bills
on the cotswold hills
to prove that we’re in the soup
while begging kipling’s pardon
there’s one thing we know for sure
if england is a garden
we ought to have more manure
hurray-hurray-hurray!
suffering and dismay

refrain 3

there are bad times just around the corner
and the outlook’s absolutely vile
there are home fires smoking
from windermere to woking
and we’re not going to tighten our belts and smile, smile, smile
at the sound of a shot
we’d just as soon as not
take a hot water bottle and go to bed
we’re going to untense our muscles till they sag sag sag
and wait until we drop down dead

refrain 4

there are bad times just around the corner
we can all look forward to despair
it’s as clear as crystal
from bridlington to bristol
that we can’t save democracy and we don’t much care
if the reds and the pinks
believe that england stinks
and that world revolution is bound to spread
we’d better all learn the lyrics of the old ‘red flag’
and wait until we drop down dead
a likely story
land of hope and glory
wait until we drop down dead

[when noel later used this number in his las vegas cabaret act, he adapted it to the american milieu, as he did with many of the topical numbers]

there are bad times just around the corner
[american lyric]

verse 1

they’re nervous in nigeria
and terribly cross in crete
in bucharest
they are so depressed
they’re frightened to cross the street
they’re sullen in siberia
and timid in turkestan
they’re sick with fright
in the isle of wight
and jittery in j-pan
the irish groan and shout, lads
maybe because they’re celts
they know they’re up the spout, lads
and so is everyone else
hurray! hurray! hurray!
trouble is on the way

refrain 1

there are bad times just around the corner
there are dark clouds hurtling through the sky
and it’s no use whining
about a silver lining
for we know from experience that they won’t roll by
with a scowl and a frown
we’ll keep our sprits down
and prepare for depression and doom and dread
we’re going to unpack our troubles from our old kit bag
and wait until we drop down dead

refrain 2

there are bad times just around the corner
the horizon’s gloomy as can be
there are black birds over
they grayish cliffs of dover
and the vultures are hovering round the christmas tree
we’re an unhappy breed
and ready to stampede
when we’re asked to remember what lincoln said
we’re going to untense our muscles till they sag sag sag
and wait until we drop down dead

verse 2

they’re morbid in mongolia
and querulous in quebec
there’s not a man
in baluchistan
who isn’t a nervous wreck
in maine the melancholia
is deeper than tongue can tell
in monaco
all the croupiers know
they haven’t a hope in h-ll
in far away australia
each wallaby’s well aware
the world’s a total failure
without any time to spare
hurray! hurray! hurray!
suffering and dismay

refrain 3

there are bad times just around the corner
we can all look forward to despair
it’s as clear as crystal
from brooklyn bridge to bristol
that we can’t save democracy
and we don’t much care
at the sound of a shot
we’d just as soon as not
take a hot-water bad and retire to bed
and while the press and the politicians nag nag nag
we’ll wait until we drop down dead

refrain 3

there are bad times just around the corner
and the outlook’s absolutely vile
you can take this from us
that when they atom bomb us
we are not going to tighten our belts and smile smile smile
we are in such a mess
it couldn’t matter less
if a world revolution is just ahead
we’d better all learn the lyrics of the old ‘red flag’
and wait until we drop down dead
a likely story
land of hope and glory
wait until we drop down dead

- noel coward lyrics

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