"The Phony King of England" is the third song of Disney's 1973 animated feature film, Robin Hood. It was written by Johnny Mercer and sung by Little John.
Summary[]
The song was sung by Little John at a private celebration honoring Robin Hood and Maid Marian's engagement, with a lot of Robin and Marian's friends dancing along to it. They are also entertained with a puppet show set by Friar Tuck and Otto.
The subject matter of the song centers on the villager's disapproval of Prince John's over taxation, hails Robin Hood as a hero and swears that with Robin's help, they will overcome their financial crisis.
Later, the song apparently catches on so much, even Sir Hiss and the Sheriff of Nottingham start singing it. When Prince John overhears them, he is furious, and when the Sheriff tells him that all the people of Nottingham are singing it, John rapidly declares a new law increasing the villagers' taxes: anyone who's unable to pay the requested amount of money will be immediately sentenced to jail.
Lyrics[]
Oh the world will sing of an English King
A thousand years from now
And not because he passed some laws
Or had that lofty brow
While bonny good King Richard leads
The great crusade he's on
We'll all have to slave away
For that good-for-nothin' John
Incredible as he is inept
Whenever the history books are kept
They'll call him the phony king of England!
A pox on the phony king of England!
He sits alone on a giant throne
Pretendin' he's the king
A little tyke who's rather like
A puppet on a string
And he throws an angry tantrum
If he cannot have his way
And then he calls for Mum
While he's suckin' his thumb
You see, he doesn't want to play
Too late to be known as John I
He's sure to be known as John the worst
A pox on that phony king of England!
While he taxes us to pieces
And he robs us of our bread
King Richard's crown keeps slippin' down
Around that pointed head
Ah! But while there is a merry man
In Robin's wily pack
We'll find a way to make him pay
And steal our money back
A minute before he knows we're there
Ol' Rob'll snatch his underwear!
The breezy and uneasy king of England!
The snivellin' grovellin',
Measly weasly,
Blabberin' jabberin',
Gibberin' jabberin',
Plunderin' plottin',
Wheelin' dealin'
Prince John, that phony King of England!
Yeah!
Trivia[]
- The song is infamous for having the most recycled animation in the movie. Throughout the song, several of the characters' movements are recycled from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Jungle Book, and The Aristocats, owing to financial issues following Phase One construction of Walt Disney World. The most notable scene is where Little John and Lady Kluck dance together, which is recycled, move for move, from Baloo's dance with King Louie in "I Wan'na Be Like You".
- This song is based on a song named "The Bastard King of England".
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