 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No. 24 - Song - Yen How - "I mean to introduce it into China"
| Yen How: | I used to think a Chinaman Was twenty times as fine a man As any born of European nations. Our manners were superior To anything exterior And had been so for many generations. But now there's not a doubt of it That China will be out of it Unless we can effect a vast improvement. We'll copy the variety Of Western high society And I will be the leader of the movement. So we'll imitate the styles Of the blessed British Isles, Though the reason isn't easy to divine — Ah! But they do it in the West, So of course it must be best, And I mean to introduce it into China. |
| Chorus: | So we'll imitate the styles Of the blessed British Isles, Though the reason isn't easy to divine — Ah! But they do it in the West, So of course it must be best, And I mean to introduce it into China. |
| Yen How: | An English woman's passion is To know what Paris fashion is In order to astonish all beholders, They look like ancient Goddesses In modern evening bodices, The kind that hasn't much about the shoulders. The dress and other drapery Must not be loose or vapoury, The tightly fitting skirt is now de rigueur, And judging from designs of it The undulating line of it Will cost as well as show a pretty figure. Though you never can be sure They are perfectly secure By the men they are consider'd quite divine — ah! And I'm told that in the West They are worn by all the best, So I mean to introduce them into China. |
| Chorus: | Though you never can be sure They are perfectly secure By the men they are consider'd quite divine — ah! And I'm told that in the West They are worn by all the best, So I mean to introduce them into China. |
| Yen How: | Some Foreign Pow'rs are saying how That Britain is decaying now, That is the text of Iconoclastic sermons, The French agree at any rate That England is degenerate, Whatever they may think about the Germans. They tell the doom that shall be on The perfidy of Albion And say they could invade her in a minute, Defeat her and demolish her And utterly abolish her But nobody is anxious to begin it. For these daring foreign blades Get the tip from Doctor Leyds And I'm told he pays them half a franc a line — ah! They may write till all is blue, But for all the harm they do They might just as well be somewhere out in China! |
| Chorus: | For these daring foreign blades Get the tip from Doctor Leyds And I'm told he pays them half a franc a line — ah! They may write till all is blue, But for all the harm they do They might just as well be somewhere out in China! |
| Yen How: | Although extremely fervidly And almost unreservedly I copy English methods to the letter, I know a case political To which, if I were critical, I might declare the Eastern plan the better. Some people contradictory Bewail a British victory And cheer for the successes of the others, And if the mules should run away And take a mountain gun away They greet the mules as Patriots and brothers! Now in China bear in mind When a man like that we find, We chop him up particularly fine — ah! And I think they'd find it best If they tried it in the West, It discourages disloyalty in China! |
| Chorus: | Now in China bear in mind When a man like that we find, We chop him up particularly fine — ah! And I think they'd find it best If they tried it in the West, It discourages disloyalty in China! |
 |
 |
|
Page modified 23 February 2017