Danny Kaye’s is the version I loved as a boy, though Bernard Cribbins does it well too. If you can’t listen, the lyrics are all you need. If you don’t cry at the the irony, smile at the knowledge that there is an answer staring us in the face, even if we choose not to see it.
Just in case you need help with the metaphor:
Aren’t we the King, courtiers and people in the crowd. The invisible clothes are the products and services we bought on credit. Who is the Global Financial System?
The King’s New Clothes
From the film “Hans Christian Andersen” (1952) (Frank Loesser – Based on the 1837 children’s story “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Andersen)
Danny Kaye (Film Soundtrack) – 1952
This is the story of the King’s new clothes.
Now there was once a king who was absolutely insane about
new clothes and one day, two swindlers came to sell him what
they said was a magic suit of clothes. Now, they held up this
particular garment and they said, “Your Majesty, this is a magic suit.”
Well, the truth of the matter is, there was no suit there at all.
But the swindlers were very smart, and they said,
“Your Majesty, to a wise man this is a beautiful raiment
but to a fool it is absolutely invisible.”
Naturally, the King not wanting to appear a fool, said:
“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
Somebody send for the Queen”
Well they sent for the Queen and they quickly explained to her
about the magic suit of clothes. And naturally,
the Queen not wanting to appear a fool, said:
“Well, isn’t it oh! 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
Summon the court to convene”
Well the court convened, and you never saw in your life
as many people as were at that court. All the ambassadors,
the dukes, the earls, the counts, it was just packed with people,
and they were all told about the magic suit of clothes.
And after they were told they
naturally didn’t want to appear fools and they said:
“Isn’t it ohhh! Isn’t it ahhh! Isn’t it absolutely wheee! (whistle sound)
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
Leading the royal brigade”
Now Saturday came and the streets were just
lined with thousands and thousands and thousands of people.
And they all were cheering as the artillery came by, the infantry marched by,
the cavalry galloped by. And everybody was cheering like mad,
except one little boy. You see, he hadn’t heard about
the magic suit and didn’t know what he was supposed to see.
Well, as the King came by the little boy looked and, horrified, 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”
Summon 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!
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