The Captains And The Kings

(album: Revolution - 1970)

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 O 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 is finished and the boys their game of rings
And the draughts and chess relinquished, Oh, the Captains and the Kings
And the draughts and chess relinquished, Oh, 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 crow's loud 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, Oh, the Captains and the Kings
So let's drink up and be merry, Oh, the Captains and the Kings

As I wandered in a nightmare all around Great Windsor Park
Now what do you think I found there as I wandered in the dark?
'Twas 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 our self down and praise God that we are white
And better still are English, tea and toast and muffing rings
And old ladies with stern faces, and the Captains and the Kings
All the ladies with stern faces, and the Captains and the Kings