His Excellency Regrets

Noel Coward

Girls:

Oh, tell us please

Entirely confidentially

How A.D.C.s

Are trained in social grace.

It's awfully brave

Daily to be called upon to save

His Excellency's face!



Men:

Any explanations

Of the duties of an A.D.C.

Prove the complications

That are rife at Government House.

Certain situations

We could never let a lady see,

There are strange vibrations

In the life at Government House.

Truth is often sacrificed for reasons of diplomacy.



Girls:

That of course we understand

But all the same it must be grand

To be

So suave, so calm, so dignified!



Men:

If you knew what all that signified-we-

Who break the Ninth Commandment every day

Would hang our heads in shame and say

Forgive-we have to live

Officially on feet of clay.

Every minute

We're made to sin it

Is really very depraved,

But to Hell

With the lies we tell,

His Excellency's honour must be saved.



Refrain 1



His Excellency regrets

That owing to an attack of Gout

He really dare not venture out

On Saturday to dine.

His Excellency regrets

That owing to doctor's orders he

Cannot attend the Mission tea

And also must decline

Your kind invitation

For Wednesday week.

A slight operation

And poor circulation

Combined with a weedy physique

Has made him unable to speak.

All this in addition to what

The Doctors describe as a 'Clot'

Which may disappear

By the end of the year

But may, very possibly, not!

His Excellency regrets

That owing to his exalted state

He can no more associate

With amiable brunettes.

Walk up-walk up-we're willing to take your bets

That that's one of the principal things His Excellency regrets!



Girls:

So now we know

About the Diplomatic Corps,

How it can so

Corrupt the soul of youth.

What happens