From the film “Hans Christian Andersen”, 1951.
Words and music by Frank Loesser.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Once there was a King
Who was very fond of wearing new clothes
One day two swindlers came to sell him
What they said was a magic suit of clothes
Now to tell the truth, there wasn’t any suit of clothes
But the swindlers held up their hands like this
And said “Your Majesty, this is a magic suit
Naturally since you’re very wise and intelligent
You can see how beautiful it is
But to a fool, it is absolutely invisible”
“I see,” said the King
And not wanting to appear a fool he added
“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
Determine the sleeves are velvet
The cape is ermine, the hose are blue
And the doublet is a lovely shade of green
Lovely shade of green
Somebody send for the Queen”
And they summoned the Queen
And she was told how only wise people
Could see the magic suit
Naturally, not wanting to appear a fool
She said, “Isn’t it great! Isn’t it rich!
Look at the charm of ev’ry 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 determine
The sleeves are velvet, the cape is ermine
The hose are blue and the doublet
Is a lovely shade of green
Lovely shade of green
Summon the court to convene”
And the court convened
The Ministers came
The ambassadors
The Counts and the Dukes
And they were all told
About the magic suit of clothes
And naturally not wanting to seem like fools
They quickly agreed
“Isn’t it Oh! Isn’t it Ah! Isn’t it absolutely
The suit of clothes is altogether
But altogether it’s altogether
The most remarkable suit of clothes
As you’ve already said
These eyes of our at once determine
The sleeves are velvet
The cape is ermine
The hose are blue
And the doublet is a lovely shade of green
Red, green, Oh, yes, green
How could we think it was red?”
And the King issued a proclamation as follows
“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
A tailor ever made
Now quickly put it all together
With gloves of leather and hat and feather
It’s altogether the thing to wear
In Saturday’s parade
Saturdays’ parade
Leading the Royal Brigade
Saturday came, and by that time
Everyone had heard about
The King’s new clothes
And that he was going
To wear them in the parade
The people lined the streets
As the Artillery came by
The Cavalry, The Fife and Drum Corps
The Royal Guard, and finally, the King
And everybody cheered
For nobody wanted to appear a fool
Nobody, that is, except one little boy
Who for some reason hadn’t heard
About the magic suit, and didn’t know
What he was supposed to see
He took one look, and exclaimed
“Look at the King! Look at 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
Call the court physician
Call the intermission
His Majesty is wide open
To ridicule and scorn
The King is in the altogether
But altogether the altogether
He’s altogether as naked
As the day that he was born
And it’s altogether too chilly a morn”