Because as you've guessed I'm continental
Romantic and sentimental
I look on love as something of an art
But I've found that nationalities
Have different formalities
When dealing with affairs of the heart
 
Now the Spaniards need a soft guitar
and a balcony to climb
While the Portuguese need the breeze in the trees
But an Englishman needs time
 
The Italians long for an operatic song
or a  soft Sicilian rhyme
Well, the French fall in love
at the drop of a glove
But an Englishman needs time
 
He'll admit to attraction
but show no reaction
His lips never part in a sigh
What goes on in his breast
is completely supressed
by the weight of his old school tie
 
The Vienese need a waltz by Strauss
or a glokenspiel to sweet chime
While the Dutch begin
with a bottle of gin
but an Englishman needs time
 
A New-Yorker's need
is variety and speed
But how the West they are more sublime
At a Hollywood ball, they need nothing at all
but an Englishman needs time
 
He will meet you maybe Monday night
But unless he's quite unique
He will call you up around Wednesday noon
you'll get flowers Thursday week
 
Though you'll have to wait
He may work up to a date
but if he's real mad for you
He will tenderly say
'you look smashing today'
and invite you to the zoo
 
When you think it's all over
this mad Casanova
arrives in a purposeful way
but if he mentions sport,
no it's not what you thought
it's to watch him play cricket all day
 
Now in Persia they need seven veils
for a sultan in his prime
while an Eskimo
needs a whole lot of snow
but an Englishman needs time
 
Now, I love all those Englishmen
but you must admit
they are terribly Anglo-Saxon
 
But after all is said and done
and the battle is finally won
Baby, let's contemplate
Who wouldn't wait
for an Englishman
 
He takes his time