Danny Kaye : 'The King's New Clothes' (1952) • Music Video / Film Clip (Hans Christian Andersen)

• HQ Audio • Standard Volume Level • Optional Subtitles for Lyrics • Lyrics Transcript Provided Below •

This video contains optional subtitles for the lyrics, and these can be activated and deactivated by simply clicking on the "CC" button beneath the video.

This is a clip from the 1952 Hollywood musical film "Hans Christian Andersen", directed by Charles Vidor.

This song was written by Frank Loesser, and the musical director was Walter Scharf. Apparently, this version of the song was never released as an audio track, and I was not even able to find a single transcript or presentation of the lyrics to it online. Danny Kaye recorded a very different version, with very different lyrics, with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra, and it was released as a double A-side single with "The Ugly Duckling" in 1952, but this single apparently did not chart in any territory. Kaye did have a No. 5 hit in the U.K. in 1953 with another song from the film: "Wonderful Copenhagen". His single version of "The King's New Clothes" was later released as a track on the 1959 album "Sings Selections From The Samuel Goldywn Technicolor Picture "Hans Christian Andersen" And Tubby The Tuba".

For more information on this song and this film, see these pages:

I have been unable to find an official presentation of the lyrics to this song online, and as mentioned above, I have not even been able to find any transcript of this version of the song; the only transcripts I found on lyrics websites were for the version released as an audio track in 1952, which is very different lyrically. Presented as optional subtitles in the video and as a pinned comment below is my own transcript of the lyrics, for which I used those transcripts of the other version of the song as a guide.

Here are my other videos which feature Danny Kaye:

Danny Kaye : "I'll Take You Dreaming" (1956) • Unofficial Music Video • HD • HQ Audio

Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye & Trudy Stevens (dubbing Vera-Ellen) : "Snow" (1954)

Danny Kaye with The Skylarks : "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" (1954)

Danny Kaye with The Skylarks : "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing (reprise)" (1954)

[notinconceivable]

"The King's New Clothes"

- Danny Kaye

(Words and Music by Frank Loesser)

Long live the king
Long live the king!
It's not a king, it's only a queen with a moustache.
Oh, you'd be surprised how many kings are only a queen with a moustache.
But we all believe it's a king, don't we?
Yeah.
And since we have no clothes for the king,
this will have to be a story about a king who had no clothes,
and about a little boy who only believed what he saw.
That's you.

Well...
One day, two swindlers came to see the king,
to sell him what they said was a magic suit of clothes.
Now, the king was very fond of new clothes, so he said:
"Well, let me see it."
But there wasn't any suit of clothes.
You see, the swindlers held up their hands like this, and they said:
"Your Majesty, this is a magic suit,
and you, being very wise and very intelligent, can see how beautiful it is,
but to a fool, it is absolutely invisible."
Well, he said, "I see, "
and not wanting to appear a fool, he added:
"Yes, indeed. I see it perfectly. It's beautiful.

Isn't it grand! Isn't it fine! Look at the cut, the style, the line!
The suit of clothes is altogether, but altogether it's altogether
The most remarkable suit of clothes that I have ever seen
These eyes of mine at once determined the sleeves are velvet, the cape is ermine
The hose are blue and the doublet is a lovely shade of green"
A lovely shade of green
"Somebody send for the queen"

The queen came, and she was told very quickly how all the wise people could see the...
Magic suit.
That's right.
And naturally, not wanting to appear a fool, she said:

"Oh! Isn't it grand! Isn't it rich! Look at the charm of every stitch!
The suit of clothes is altogether, but altogether it's altogether
The most remarkable suit of clothes that I have ever seen
These eyes of mine at once determined the sleeves are velvet, the cape is ermine
The hose are blue and the doublet is a lovely shade of green"
A lovely shade of green
"Summon the court to convene"

And all the court came, and the ministers came, and the ambassadors came,
and naturally, not wanting to seem like fools, they quickly agreed with the...
King and queen.

So the king issued a proclamation, as follows:
[coughs]

"The suit of clothes is altogether, but altogether it's altogether
The most remarkable suit of clothes a tailor ever made
Now quickly put it altogether with gloves of leather and hat and feather
It's altogether the thing to wear in Saturday's parade"
Saturday's parade
"Leading the royal brigade"

Well, by this time, everybody had heard about the king's new clothes,
and that he was going to wear them in Saturday's parade.
The people lined the streets as the artillery came by,
and the infantry came by,
and the cavalry came by,
and the pipe and drum corps, and the royal guard,
and finally, the king.
And everybody cheered, "Hooray!"
Hooray!
Because nobody wanted to appear a fool.
Nobody, that is, except one little boy who, for some strange reason,
hadn't heard about the king's new magic suit,
and didn't know what he was supposed to see.

Well, he took one look at the king, turned a little pale, and said:

"Look at the king! Look at the the king!
Look at the king, the king, the king!
The king is in the altogether, but altogether the altogether
He's altogether as naked as the day that he was born
The king is in the altogether, but altogether the altogether
It's altogether the very least the king has ever worn

Call the court physician!
Call an intermission!
His Majesty is wide open to ridicule and scorn

The king is in the altogether, but all together the altogether
He's altogether as naked as the day that he was born
And it's altogether too chilly a morn!"

[yalejosie]

What really makes this song for me everytime is you can see that the children on set are so genuinely invested. What a treasure!

[janehall]

These fables are always important to teach children and remind the adults. I miss these movies from my youth. I watched this with my paternal grandma at a weekend matinee for families in Berkeley. These movies taught basic common sense and a healthy skeptical outlook that was shared as a community.

[carmanbazza]

Danny Kaye, great entertainer great song popped in my head just now, must be 30 years since I saw this film..

[SaraSachsMediumonthego]

This song has become very timely today, and I'll leave it at that.

[nifferwolf]

Brilliant. I have fond memories of watching this with my grandad and mum :)
Danny Kaye is always a joy

[kali]

Still one of my favorite Danny Kaye moments. This movie was so much fun to watch.

[abigailgodfrey]

Went to the interactive Hans Christian Anderson museum in Odense yesterday, was amazing ❤

[Cydonia]

I had a record of this and many other of Danny’s songs from this movie when I was a child. I think I wore the record out. But what a great memory to recall again after 50 years!

[amarpreetsingh]

Happy birthday to you dear chap...2nd April...who else remembered vaguest memories of this film

[jillianw]

Absolute wisdom, speak the truth and don't be led by ego.

[samantharatheramirez]

Wen I was a kid Danny Kaye was my all time favorite actor and still is to dis day after after 58 yrs 💖💖💖

[leecrawford]

This story can be applied to our lives in many ways. Tell it like it is, not how they want you to see it. Danny kaye, legend.

[juliaholman]

Loved it. It's as good as it was when I was a kid!

[joannemartin]

I grew up in this film, its wonderful!

[MiddieTV]

Omg- heard this on the radio just right now and the radio glitched and this sounded weird😂😂

[MandaWard]

These songs 🎵 are classics and pop up in my mind when something triggers it
Danny Kaye is so sweet with the kids ❤❤❤❤

[Love_OPX]

He was always so elegant. A wonderful movie for kids. ❤

[eleanorsopwith]

This song more relevant than ever. Apparently we're living in a utopia of diversity, 'kindness', academic excellence, not to mention communist values, and with the NHS is on its knees, strikes causing total misery for all concerned, polluted seas and wealth inequality at its worse ever in history, and yes, the emperor has no clothes! Surely it doesn't have to be this way.

[williamthurl]

Somebody should play this to Keir Starmer and Ed Davey...Or as Basil Fawlty said : " Couldn't we get you on Mastermind, Sybil ? Specialist subject- The Totally bl****ng obvious "