The Emperor Has No Clothes lyrics

Well the emperor wears no clothes,

All he's got on is a slogan,

It's really not much of a thing,

He'd be better off wearing a g-string,

The emperor has no clothes.

They wove him a suit out of nothing,

A couple of worn-out phrases.

"Commitments," "aggression" and such,

He paid through the nose for the touch,

And the emperor has no clothes.

He's got mud and blood all over,

And that is a rotten cover,

Him heading a fine procession

With only his facial expression,

The emperor has no clothes.

The Frenchman said, "You're naked!"

But the emperor couldn't hear.

An adman was filling his ear

With a story of destiny--

A man who was bare as Adam,

As any small child could see.

He stands like Napoleon

With his hand tucked into his jacket,

But he really hasn't a jacket,

No trouser, no pocket, no placket,

The emperor has no clothes.

The rogues are selling him napalm,

Airplanes, bullets and rockets,

A prospectus for doomsday war,

Plus a noble historical stance,

When what he needs are some decent civilian pants.

• Artist:Malvina Reynolds