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Why Can’t the English? (Film Version) Lyrics by Rex Harrison

My Fair Lady (Motion Picture Soundtrack)

1964

[HIGGINS]
Look at her, a prisoner of the gutters
Condemned by every syllable she utters
By right, she should be taken out and hung
[HIGGINS, spoken]
For the cold-blooded murder of the English tongue
[ELIZA, spoken]
Aow
[HIGGINS]
Aow
Heavens, what a sound
This is what the British population
Calls an elementary education
[PICKERING, spoken]
Come, sir, I think you picked a poor example
[HIGGINS, spoken]
Did I?
[HIGGINS]
Hear them down in Soho Square
Dropping Hs everywhere
Speaking English anyway they like
Hey, you sir, did you go to school?
[MAN]
What do ya tike me for, a fool?
[HIGGINS]
No one taught him "take" instead of "tike"
Hear a Yorkshireman, or worse
Hear a Cornishman converse
I'd rather hear a choir singing flat
Chickens cackling in a barn
Just like this one
[ELIZA, spoken]
Garn
[HIGGINS, spoken]
Garn
I ask you, sir, what sort of word is that?
[HIGGINS]
It's "aow" and "garn" that keep her in her place
Not her wretched clothes and dirty face
Why can't the English teach their children how to speak?
This verbal class distinction by now should be antique
If you spoke as she does, sir, instead of the way you do
Why, you might be selling flowers, too
[PICKERING, spoken]
I beg your pardon
[HIGGINS]
An Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him
The moment he talks, he makes some other Englishman despise him
One common language I'm afraid we'll never get
Oh, why can't the English learn to
Set a good example to people whose English is painful to your ears?
The Scots and the Irish leave you close to tears
There even are places where English completely disappears
[HIGGINS, spoken]
Well, in America, they haven't used it for years
[HIGGINS]
Why can't the English teach their children how to speak?
Norwegians learn Norwegian, the Greeks are taught their Greek
In France every Frenchman knows his language from "A" to "Zed"
[HIGGINS, spoken]
The French don't care what they do, actually
As long as they pronounce it properly
[HIGGINS]
Arabians learn Arabian with the speed of summer lightning
The Hebrews learn it backwards, which is absolutely frightening
Use proper English, you're regarded as a freak
Oh, why can't the English
Why can't the English learn to speak?
Credits
Rex Harrison

Rex Harrison

About “Why Can’t the English? (Film Version)” by Rex Harrison

Read the complete lyrics to "Why Can’t the English? (Film Version)" by Rex Harrison from the album "My Fair Lady (Motion Picture Soundtrack)" in 1964. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Soundtrack, Pop, Musicals.

"Why Can’t the English? (Film Version)" is performed by Rex Harrison. from the album "My Fair Lady (Motion Picture Soundtrack)" in 1964 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Why Can’t the English? (Film Version)", explore more songs by Rex Harrison using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Why Can’t the English? (Film Version)" is credited to Rex Harrison. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Why Can’t the English? (Film Version)" appears on "My Fair Lady (Motion Picture Soundtrack)" in 1964.

Visit the Rex Harrison artist page at /artist/rex-harrison for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.