"A British Bank" is a song from the film Mary Poppins. It was performed by George Banks and Mary Poppins. In the film, Mr. Banks attempts to fire Mary Poppins because of all the nonsense he has been hearing from his children about the adventures she has taken with them, but instead, Mary Poppins uses reverse psychology on him to give him the idea of bringing his children to the bank.
Lyrics[]
George Banks:
A British bank is run with precision
A British home requires nothing less!
Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools
Without them: disorder, chaos, moral disintegration!
In short, you have a ghastly mess!
Mary Poppins: I quite agree!
George Banks: The children must be molded, shaped and taught
That life's a looming battle to be faced and fought
(speaking) In short, I am disturbed to hear my children talking about popping in and out of chalk pavement pictures, consorting with racehorse persons, fox hunting! Yes, well, I don't mind that quite so much. At any rate, it's traditional. But tea parties on the ceiling? I ask you, having tea parties on the ceiling and highly questionable outings of every other kind!
(singing) If they must go on outings
These outings ought to be
Fraught with purpose, yes and practicality!
These silly words like superca...
Superca... superca...
Mary Poppins: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
George Banks: Yes, well done, you said it!
And popping through pictures
Have little use, fulfill no basic need!
They've got to learn the honest truth
Despite their youth
They must learn...
Mary Poppins: About the life you lead!
George Banks: Exactly!
Mary Poppins: They must feel the thrill of totting up a balanced book
A thousand ciphers neatly in a row (George Banks: Quite right)
When gazing at a graph that shows the profits up
Their little cup of joy should overflow!
George Banks: Precisely!
Mary Poppins: It's time they learned to walk in your footstep
George Banks: My footsteps!
Mary Poppins: To tread your straight and narrow path with pride
George Banks: With pride!
Mary Poppins: Tomorrow, just as you suggest pressed and dressed
Jane and Michael will be at your side
Trivia[]
- When writing this song, the Sherman Brothers had to be careful with how they wrote Mary Poppins' verse, since she used reverse psychology on George Banks.
