Enjoy,
Jim Carroll

THE CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS
(Brendan Behan)

Notes
From Brendan Behan's play "The Hostage" the song mocks the arrogance of the English Upper Classes. Evelyn Waugh was one of England's most famous novelists (e.g. Brideshead Revisted), and was famous for his arrogance. Draughts is the English word for what the Americans call "checkers". "The white man's burden" was an expression used to describe the "sacrifices" made by the English to tame the natives in the countries of the British Empire. Great Windsor Park is used by the rich as the home of the upper class game of polo.

Lyrics
I remember in September,when the final stumps were drawn,
And the shouts of crowds now silent when the boys to tea had gone.
Let us, oh Lord above us, remember simple things,
When all are dead who love us, Oh the Captains and the Kings,
When all are dead who love us, Oh the Captains and the Kings.

We have many goods for export, Christian ethics and old port
But our greatest boast is that Anglo-Saxon is a sport
When the darts game is finished, and the boys their game of rings
And the draughts and chess relinquished for the captains and the kings
And the draughts and chess relinquished for the captains and the kings

Far away in dear old Cyprus, or in Kenya's dusty land,
Where all bear the white man's burden in many a strange land.
As we look across our shoulder, in West Belfast the school bell rings,
And we sigh for dear old England, and the Captains and the Kings.
And we sigh for dear old England, and the Captains and the Kings.

In our dreams we see old Harrow, and we hear the crows load caw
At the flower show our big marrow takes the pride from Evelyn Waugh.
Cups of tea and some dry sherry, vintage cars, these simple things
So let`s drink up and be marry, for the captains and the kings
So let`s drink up and be marry, for the captains and the kings

As I wandered in a nightmare all around Great Windsor Park,
Now what did you think I found there as I wandered in the dark?
It was an apple half-bitten, and sweetest of all things,
Five baby teeth had written of the Captains and the Kings.
Five baby teeth had written of the Captains and the Kings.

By the moon that shines above us in the misty morn and night
Let us cease to run ourselves down and praise God that we are white
And better still are English, tea and toast and muffin rings
And old ladies with stirned faces and the captains and the kings
And old ladies with stirned faces and the captains and the kings.