An Englishman Needs Time

As you've guessed I'm continental
Romantic and sentimental
I look on love as something of an art
But I've found that nationalities
Have different formalities
When dealing with affairs of the heart

Now a Spaniard needs a soft guitar
And a balcony to climb
While the Portuguese
Needs the breeze in the trees
But an Englishman needs time

The Italians long
For an operatic song
Or a soft Sicilian rhyme
Well, the French fall in love
At the drop of a glove
But an Englishman needs time

He'll admit to an attraction
But show no reaction
His lips never part in a sigh
What goes on in his breast
Is completely suppressed
By the weight of his old school tie

The Viennese need a waltz by Strauss
Or a glockenspiel's sweet chime
While the Dutch begin
With the bottle of gin
But an Englishman needs time

A New Yorker's need
Is variety and speed
But out West, they are more sublime
At a Hollywood-bowl
They need nothing at all
But an Englishman needs time

He will meet you maybe Monday night
But unless he's quite unique
He will call you up around Wednesday noon
You'll get flowers Thursday week

Though you'll have to wait
He may work up to a date
But if he's really mad for you
He will tenderly say:
You look smashing today
And invite you to the zoo

When you think is all over
This mad Casanova
Arrives in a purposeful way
But if he mention sport
No, it's not what you thought
It's to watch him play cricket all day

Now in Persia, they need seven veils
For a sultan in his prime
While an Eskimo
Needs a whole lot of snow
But an Englishman needs time

Now, I love all you Englishmen
But you must admit, you are terribly Anglo-Saxon
But after all, it's said and done
And the battle is finally won
Ladies, let's contemplate
Who wouldn't wait
For an Englishman
Who takes his
Time