RAK 16 When Travelling in India
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When Travelling in India
With apologies to Noel Coward… and Indians… This was obviously written as a pastiche of ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ – with great fondness both for Coward and for India (where we have spent many months over the last few years and have a great many good friends). When we drive about in places that are unfamiliar to Mr Kumar he regularly stops to ask directions but always cross-checks two or three times until he is convinced that the person really does know the way. He is often given conflicting advice and only rarely does anyone actually admit that they don’t know… So I accept the dangers of stereotyping, but this does have some basis of truth even if only on the level of ‘English people only ever talk about the weather'. I could give many specific examples (the second verse being based on an actual event) but would rather leave it that, whatever its faults, it was written with love! This is (virtually) a single take to give it spontenaeity… so apologies for the garbled, over –fast at the end, vocals. I just don’t have Noel’s perfect diction…
RAK 16 When travelling in India (Mary Davies piano)
C (bass run down) C (alt bass) G+5 C (alt bass) G+5 Gsus 2
When travelling in India here’s the ticket, just as in cricket, try to avoid that sticky wicket
C (bass run down) C (alt bass) G2G° B Dsus4
You must remember when conversing with the natives, take palliative steps not to get caught up in
Gsus2 D Db5 D G
the thicket of the flaws of their social mores
Eb D G° D
For though Indians are the friendliest of fellas it is true
Eb F° E7A
There’s just one thing, one troublesome thing, that they’re inclined to do
Bb A F° A
Before you treat me with disdain, let me please explain
D A G D A D
They’ll never admit it if they don’t know the answer to a question that a tourist has posed
A7 D E7 A
The British stiff upper lip it, and Americans simply skip it
D A G D A7 D
The more they’re in a fluster, the more they Philebuster and the more their confidence grows
E7 A F°E7A
To the point that they’ll agree to its utmost certainty
G A7 D A7 D A7 D
And though the fear of the disgrace of losing face is found in other Asiatics too
E7 D G A D
Oh why can’t an Indian ever admit it that he really doesn’t have a clue!
Next cycle in up by 2nd
D….
I remember once in Delhi being late, for an important date, trying to get to somewhere near India gate
But after following a gentleman’s directions, through many intersections,
A
We felt this man we must berate
F E G° F#7 B
For we were right back where we started, but the chappie of course had long departed
A B E B E B E B
So when a man says with a waggle of his head he knows the way to Timbuktu
B G° F#7 B
Take his thoughts with a pinch of salt that’s what I’m telling you
For they’ll never admit it if they don’t know the answer to a question that a tourist has posed
An Israeli might show chutzpah, a Frenchman maybe sang froid
The more they’re in a fluster, the more they Philebuster and the more their confidence grows
To the point that they’ll agree to its utmost certainty
And though the fear of the disgrace of losing face is found in other Asiatics too
Oh why can’t an Indian ever admit it that he really doesn’t have a clue!
And though its no omission to show a little indecision on a matter of no consequence it’s true
Oh why can’t an Indian ever admit it when it really doesn’t matter if he truly doesn’t get it
Oh why can’t an Indian ever admit it that he really doesn’t have a clue!