Noel Coward 'There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner' (1952) from 'The Globe Revue' LYRICS HERE

Noel Coward sings "There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner" from "The Globe Revue" on Columbia D.B.3107

1952

They're out of sorts in Sunderland and
terribly cross in Kent. They're dull in Hull,
and the Isle of Mull is seething with discontent.

They're nervous in Northumberland, and Devon
is down the drain. They're filled with wrath on
the firth of Forth and sullen on Salisbury Plain.

In Dublin they're depressed, lads--maybe
because they're Celts. For Drake is going
West, lads, and so is everyone else.

Hurray, hurray, hurray! Misery's on the way.

There are bad times just around the corner.
There are dark clouds hurtling through the
sky, and it's no good whining about a silver
lining for we know from experience that
they won't roll by.

With a scowl and a frown we'll keep our
peckers down and prepare for depression
and doom and dread. We're going to unpack
our troubles from our old kit bag and wait
until we drop down dead.

There are bad times just around the corner.
The horizon's gloomy as can be. There are
black birds over the grayish cliffs of Dover,
and the rats are preparing to leave the BBC.

We're an unhappy breed and very bored
indeed when reminded of something
that Nelson said. While the press and
the politicians nag nag nag we'll wait
until we drop down dead.

From Colwyn Bay to Kettering they're sobbing
themselves to sleep. The shrieks and wails in the
Yorkshire dales have even depressed the sheep.

In rather vulgar lettering a very disgruntled
group have posted bills on the Cotswold Hills
to prove that we're in the soup.

While begging Kipling's pardon there's one
thing we know for sure--if England is a garden,
we ought to have more manure.

Hurray, hurray, hurray! Suffering and dismay.

There are bad times just around the corner,
and the outlook's absolutely vile.

There are home fires smoking from
Windermere to Woking, and we're not going
to tighten our belts and smile, smile, smile.

At the sound of a shot we'd just as soon as
not take a hot water bottle and go to bed.
We're going to un-tense our muscles till they
sag sag sag and wait until we drop down dead.

There are bad times just around the
corner. We can all look forward to
despair. It's as clear as crystal from
Bridlington to Bristol that we can't
save democracy, and we don't much
care if the Reds and the Pinks believe
that England stinks and that world
revolution is bound to spread.

We'd better all learn the lyrics
of the old 'Red Flag' and wait
until we drop down dead.

Noel Coward "There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner" (1952) from "The Globe Revue" LYRICS HERE

[JamesGower-chzj]

Some people fail to see the irony and humour in this song written in 1952 as here we are in 2023 still plodding on relentlessly against all odds. Bravo

[ruthfitch]

Very apt for the current political climate.

[richardcleveland]

Gawd, he was good! His songs are best when HE sings them!

[Henry-cdqq]

This song will forever be relevant. I love the frank turner version

[daeshbagcentral]

Lovely....I'll whistle it on my way to Tesco. I'm doing Goulash & Noodles(sort of noodles)

[saltburner]

This was Noel's rebuke to the false optimism of the Festival of Britain (1951),

[juanmonge]

The same man who wrote: “Why must the show go on” .

[Penninebloke]

I've sent the link to the labour party..😂

[kgbgb]

Very downlifting, in a cheerful sort of way.

I was sent here by a comment by Scarfell UK. It was on the article "destroying monsters by helmholz smith" at sonar21, which I can highly recommend.