ADD: The Captains and the Kings (Brendan Behan)

Subject: The Captain and the Kings
From:
Date: 11 Mar 98 - 12:29 PM

I'm looking for a Brendan Behan song called "The Captains and the Kings", decribing Englishmen in a rather ironical matter
Håvard

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 12 Mar 98 - 05:53 AM

If nobody can help you with the lyrics, Håvard, here's a hint if you have to help yourself: You'll find it in Behan's play "The hostage".
Wolfgang

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 12 Mar 98 - 06:04 AM

Wolfgang

You're making me feel guilty! I promised to post these some time ago but never did. I'll see if I can rustle up a set over the next few days.

Regards

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: Ezio
Date: 12 Mar 98 - 09:06 AM

Havard, this should be the one you are looking for. Wolfgang knwe I had this lyric and told me to post it. I'm sorry I didn't before, I just missed this thread. Cheers. Ezio

CAPTAIN AND THE KINGS

Don't be pass remarkable
Said your man with the medals on his chest
They were not only says he they were giants
That was a queer old giant that ordered them to shell the
G.P.O. officer gentlemen and sportsmen
With a sense of fair play
Well that's their story

I remember in September when the final stumps were drawn
And she shouts of crowds now silent as the boys tratee had gone
Let us, Oh Lord above us, still remember simple things
When all our dead who love us on the Captain and the kings

We have many goods for export, christian ethics And old port,
But our greatest boast is the Anglo-saxone is a sport
On the playing fields of Eaton we still do silly things,
Do not think we were beaten said the captain and the kings

Faraway in dear old Cyprus or in Kenya 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 side for dear old England Oh the captains and the kings

In our dream we see old Hallow and we hear the crowds loud call
As the flower show our big meadow takes the prize from Evalyn Waugh
Cups of tea and some dry sherry, vintage cars, these simple things,
So let’s drink up and be merry Oh the captains and the kings

By the moons that shine above us in the misty morn and night
let us cease to run ourselves down and praise God that we are white
But better still were English tea and toast and muffin rings
And the old ladies with stern faces and the captain and the kings

Sung also by The Dubliners

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: Håvard
Date: 12 Mar 98 - 09:52 AM

Thanks Ezio, it's a great song. No need to feel guilty Martin, I had lost the old tread myself.
Håvard

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS (Brendan Behan
From: Fergie
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 09:46 AM

Hi I thought that I might add the lyrics as I know them, some of Ezio's version is a little suspect.

The song is probably best sung in an exaggerated and very plumey upperclass "oldboy" English accent (that's how Brendan used sing it). People that are familiar with the works of Brendan Behan will understand what this song is about. In my opinion it is one of the best political songs ever penned, it captures a certain attitude to perfection.

THE CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS

Brendan Behan

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 the Anglo-Saxon is a sport
When the darts game they are finished, & the boys their game of rings
And the drafts and chess relinquished Oh the captains and the kings
And the drafts and chess relinquished Oh the captains and the kings

Far away in dear old Cyprus, or in Kenya's dusty land,
We 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 crow's load caw
At the flower show our big marrow takes the prize from Evelyn Waugh
Cups of tea and some dry Sherry, vintage cars, these simple things
So let`s drink up and be merry, for the captains and the kings
So let`s drink up and be merry, 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 morning light
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 stern faces and the captains and the kings
And old ladies with stern faces and the captains and the kings

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: mooman
Date: 19 Oct 05 - 04:30 AM

Confirm Fergie's version which is the same as the one I have. It's an excellent and incisive song but I don't do it as much as I should.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 19 Oct 05 - 04:42 AM

The title comes from Kipling doesn't it?

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: Jim McLean
Date: 19 Oct 05 - 04:43 AM

I have a recording by Dominic Behan and I agree totally with Fergie.

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: The Walrus
Date: 19 Oct 05 - 06:02 AM

Le Scaramouche wrote:=
"...The title comes from Kipling doesn't it? ..."

It's from "Recessional"

"...The tumult and the shouting dies;
    The Captains and the Kings depart;
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
    An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget — lest we forget!..."

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 19 Oct 05 - 07:28 AM

That's what I thought.

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 09:13 AM

There's one phrase in this verse which differs slightly from the one I've heard.

Far away in dear old Cyprus, or in Kenya's dusty land,
*We 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.

The different bit is:

Where all bear the white man's burden in many a strange land.

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 09:40 AM

The tumult and the shouting dies,
The captains and the kings depart,
And we are left with large supplies
Of cold blancmange and rhubarb tart.

I think that was by Mr. Kipling, exceedingly bad parodies.

Subject: RE: The Captain and the Kings
From: greg stephens
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 03:55 PM

A wonderfully written song, and so full of interesting ambiguities that it I'm sure it as greatly loved by its English targets as by Behan's fellow Irishmen. That song is a target at which song-writers on the folk scene should aim at (and possibly consider going home if they don't get somewhere near the gold?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Captains and the Kings (Brendan Behan
From: GUEST,jackhickey
Date: 08 Feb 19 - 06:00 PM

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.

Can anyone enlighten me on the reference in these lines to the five baby teeth and half bitten apple?

Great Song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Captains and the Kings (Brendan Behan
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 09:57 AM

Presumably the baby teeth would have been those of one of the last crop of princesses and princes, who would have been toddlers at the time it was written - Prince Charles and Princess Anne?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Captains and the Kings (Brendan Behan
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 21 - 10:38 AM

Ah those baby teeth that had me wondering. Like Thompson's idea.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Captains and the Kings (Brendan Behan
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Feb 24 - 06:22 AM

I know this is an old thread but just a quick coda. The verse:

We have many goods for export, Christian ethics and old port
But our greatest boast is that the Anglo-Saxon is a sport
On the playing fields of Eton we still do thrilling things
But don't think we're ever beaten, oh the captains and the kings
But don't think we're ever beaten, oh the captains and the kings

Is a variation Ive heard on Phil Chevron's early 80s version of the song, before he joined The Pogues, I think.

It's a nice addition and reflects the public school influence still so prevalent in the British ruling class.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Captains and the Kings (Brendan Behan
From: Thompson
Date: 23 Feb 24 - 02:45 AM

Brendan Behan singing his own song in a satiric Oxford accent.

Subject: RE: ADD: The Captains and the Kings (Brendan Behan)
From: GUEST,BB
Date: 15 Mar 24 - 09:59 PM

Can someone elaborate on the Great Windsor Park verse? @Thompson, you say the baby teeth are those of the royal family; what makes you think that? What's the significance of Great Windsor Park? Why's he wandering there in a nightmare? What's the significance of the apple? What's it mean that the baby teeth had 'written of' the captains and the kings?

Sorry if I'm being thick, but this verse is an enigma to me; interestingly, Dominic Behan doesn't include it in his version.