Western People Funny
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Western People Funny
Lyrics By Oscar Hammerstein II Music By Richard Rodgers
Preparing for the arrival of British dignitaries, the palace women wear uncomfortable European clothing and comment on the absurdity of Western customs.
LISTEN
“Western People Funny” LYRICS
Lady Thiang:
To prove we’re not barbarians
They dress us up like savages!
To prove we’re not barbarians
We wear a funny skirt!
Ah!
Women:
To prove we’re not barbarians
They dress us up like savages!
To prove we’re not barbarians
We wear a funny skirt!
Lady Thiang:
Western people funny,
Western people funny,
Western people funny,
Of that there is no doubt.
They feel so sentimental
About the Oriental,
They always try to turn us
Inside down and upside out!
Women:
Upside out and inside down!
Lady Thiang:
To bruise and pinch our little toes
Our feet are cramped in leather shoes—
They’d break if we had brittle toes,
But now they only hurt!
Ah!
Women:
To bruise and pinch our little toes
Our feet are cramped in leather shoes—
They’d break if we had brittle toes,
But now they only hurt!
Western people funny,
Western people funny,
Western people funny,
Too funny to be true!
Lady Thiang:
They think they civilize us
Whenever they advise us
To learn to make the same mistake
That they are making too!
Ah!
Women:
They think they civilize us
Whenever they advise us
To learn to make the same mistake
That they are making too!
All:
They make quite a few!
“Western People Funny” (Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II)
© 1951, Copyright Renewed, Williamson Music Company (ASCAP) c/o Concord Music Publishing.
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.