Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans

"Don't Let's Be Beastly To The Germans" is a satirical song composed by Noël Coward in 1943 during World War II. Although popular when performed live (British prime minister Winston Churchill demanded several encores when he first heard it) the humour did not translate well over the wireless and caused some fuss, leading the BBC to ban the song.

The refrain is:

Don't let's be beastly to the Germans

When our victory is ultimately won,

It was just those nasty Nazis who persuaded them to fight

And their Beethoven and Bach are really far worse than their bite

Let's be meek to them

And turn the other cheek to them

And try to bring out their latent sense of fun.

Let's give them full air parity

And treat the rats with charity,

But don't let's be beastly to the Hun.

See also

• List of songs banned by the BBC

External links

• "Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans" at Internet Archive (MP3, OGG)
• "Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans" at YouTube