Flanders & Swann

Song of Patriotic Prejudice
(The English are Best)
AT THE DROP OF ANOTHER HAT
on Broadway 1967

By Permission of THE FLANDERS & SWANN ESTATES

• Category

  Comedy

[troberts1]

This is actually the first time I've seen a video of the two of them. Also interesting hearing a more updated version, about Americans. I kinda miss this bit, though:

And all the world over, each nation's the same,

They've simply no notion of Playing the Game:

They argue with umpires; they cheer when they've won;

And they practise beforehand, which ruins the fun!

Thanks for posting this. :D

[LeonPFB]

Their songs continually evolved over the 11 years they toured the two HAT shows, so variations are bound to occur - yes, I miss the 'Playing the Game' verse too!

[LeonPFB]

The song was pretty controversial when it was coined in 1963. They originally called it 'Anthem Anathema' - but that was too highbrow. Members of the audience would sidle up to them and say "We're so glad you feel this way too". So to make the satire totally explicit they renamed it 'Song of Patriotic Prejudice'. Some right-wingers still don't get it and trot it out as a quasi- national song. Twits!

[Amosral]

bollocks they would, they're mocking xenophobic attitudes, this is a piece of satire, and I think less people would mistake its meaning now than before. As for political correctness, well, if you search "stuart lee political correctness" on here, he gets the point accross rather well I think.

[Mat Faz]

21 people are not English! :)

[Lise Kartak-McDonald]

wow I have not heard this since I was like 11... I will be 50 in August. :) Thank you thank you!!!!! Such memories.

[mightywindmill102]

It's a mocking patriotism. Love it.

[jjdecani]

It's knowing you're foreign that's driving you mad.

[Paaarrrp]

i reckon all the dislikers are foreigners!!!! haha love the top notch satire

[ushoys]

Fortunately opinions of the Scots, Welsh and Irish don't count.

[Bob Jones]

Thanks for posting, great to see them again. People still miss the point of their gentle pointed satire. Regarded as 'quintessentially English', Donald Ibrahim Swann was born in Wales of Russian and Azerbaijani parentage.

[MrWestomniac]

and if you run away from english, youll be german.



[iantybach]

It is an ironic song you bell end. I am Welsh, and find this marvelously funny.Not as you seem to indicate, a song of national praise.

[pompompoodle1]

awesomest song ever