Taken From A County Jail/I've Got a Little List

Eric Idle.
The Mikado (1987).

[@andrewc.2952]

I LOVE this song!!!! He performs it superbly.

[@francismallard5892]

“On me own re-cog-ni-zan-ces”. Such a great line!

[@dovasvariakojis6934]

A superb performance! I loved it!

[@jmcallion2071]

Eric is brilliant!!!

[@KenzoSnizzle]

Lyrics: Verse 1 Ko-Ko: As someday it may happen that a victim must be found, I’ve got a little list - I’ve got a little list Of society offenders who might well be underground, And who never would be missed - who never would be missed! There’s weightlifters and bodybuilders, people of that sort- Bank robbers who retire to Spain the minute they get caught- Bishops who don't believe in God, chief constables who do! All people who host chat shows and the guests what's on 'em too- And customs men who fumbling through your underwear insist- I don't think they'd be missed - I'm sure they'd not be missed! Chorus: He’s got them on the list - he’s got them on the list; And they’ll none of them be missed - they’ll none of them be missed! Verse 2 Ko-Ko: There’s the people with pretentious names like Justin, Trish and Rolf, And the gynaecologist - I've got him on the list! All muggers, joggers, buggers, floggers, people who play golf, They never would be missed - they never would be missed! All waitresses who make you wait, accountants of all kinds- And actresses who kiss & tell and wiggle their behinds- And poncey little singers who to entertain us try, By dressing up like women and by singing far too high, And who on close observance must be either stoned or pissed- I don’t think they’d be missed - I’m sure they’d not be missed! Chorus: He’s got them on the list - he’s got them on the list; And they’ll none of them be missed - they’ll none of them be missed! Verse 3 Ko-Ko: There’s the beggars who write letters to the Inland Revenue, And the gossip columnist - I’ve got him on my list! All critics and comedians and opera singers too, They’d none of them be missed - they’d none of them be missed! All traffic wardens, bankers, men who sell Venetian blinds- All advertising chappies and Australians of all kinds! And nasty little editors whose papers are the pits, Who fill their rags with gossip and with huge and floppy...writs! And girls who sell the stories of the Tories they have kissed- But you must've got the gist - they’d none of them be missed! Chorus: You may put them on the list - you may put them on the list; And they’ll none of them be missed - they’ll none of them be missed!

[@springyslinky2190]

Wait hang on Eric Idol?!

[@blesseddrones9852]

*Idle* yes.

[@HIBERNIAN04]

Was he not made for the part?

[@thomashogan16]

Chorus is perfect! Lyrics absurdly Victorian piffel! Thanks.

[@elizabethlaubhan474]

I don’t think that’s really Eric.

[@AdLockhorst-bf8pz]

It's Eric's half brother Wilberforce. There exists an adult movie in which the brothers ... welll ... 😳 never you mind! And anyway, back then that sort of thing was legal in Rotherham. 😨

[@hannahs1683]

Why aren’t they wearing Japanese stuff?

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

Because that is just a cover to the true nature of Mikado: a scathing critique of Western society. Plenty of songs and plot points in this operetta would not fit in its Japanese setting such as the song "Three Little Schoolgirls" as women education in pre-Meiji Japan is basically unheard of and wouldn't be possible until 1947...

[@hannahs1683]

@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 but the musical is set in Japan

[@setonix9151]

Yeah Gilbert and Sullivan made it set in Japan, so that they could satirise British institution more freely, and to commercialise on the oriental fad at the time. It didn't really make sense for it to be in Japan, they did it so people would be less outraged. + A lot of stuff regarding Japanese culture some would consider too stereotypical and wouldn't fly in current society. So to fully express the meaning Gilbert wanted, while elimating any potential offense to a culture who has nothing to do with it at all. Though I quite like 'Japanese' renditions of it, it would still fit for the play to be adapted to the time, as Gilbert would have want it. As even are renditions with japanese costumes.

[@CarolYost]

When he starts out, he’s singing off-key and doesn’t sound good. (“Taken from a county jail . . .”). The rest is fine.

[@elizabethlaubhan474]

This really dumb. Why do it this way. Makes no sense. But I agree the voices are good.

[@Gravelgratious]

Japan in 20's, what's hard to grasp?

[@docastrov9013]

Awful.

[@dimetronome]

I like Eric Idle, but it was painful watching this version after the one with John Reed.