The Story of Doctor Dolittle book by Hugh Lofting
Doctor Dolittle 1967 movie – Rex Harrison and Richard Attenborough
Lyrics from the movie
LIKE ANIMALS
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE HUMAN RACE,
THAT HAS SO LITTLE LOVE
FOR CREATURES WITH A DIFFERENT FACE.
TREATING ANIMALS LIKE PEOPLE
IS NO MADNESS OR DISGRACE.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE HUMAN RACE.
WHY DO WE TREAT ANIMALS LIKE ANIMALS ?
HOW CAN PEOPLE BE SO INHUMANE ?
COWS AND CHICKENS WORK TO FEED US.
DOGS AND HORSES SHOW THEY NEED US.
AND THOUGH CATS DON’T ALWAYS HEED US,
THEIR AFFECTION IS PLAIN.
WHAT DO WE DO? WE NEGLECT THEM!
WE DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THEM!
WE REJECT THEM – DON’T EXPECT THEM
TO COMPLAIN!
WE IGNORE THEM OR WE BEAT THEM!
WHEN WE’RE HUNGRY, THEN WE EAT THEM!
IT’S APPALLING HOW WE TREAT THEM!
IT’S INSANE!
LIKE……ANIMALS!
WE HUMILIATE AND MURDER AND CONFINE THEM!
WE CREATE THEIR WRETCHED STATUS,
THEN WE USE IT TO MALIGN THEM!
I mean,
WHY SHOULD WE SAY “TREAT HIM LIKE A DOG”?
WHY SHOULD WE SAY “WORKING LIKE A HORSE”?
WHY SHOULD WE SAY “EATING LIKE A HOG”?
WHEN WHAT WE MEAN IS “EATING LIKE A MAN”!
DON’T WE? OF COURSE!
A MAN OF ILL-REPUTE IS CALLED A WEASEL OR A RAT.
A WOMAN YOU DISLIKE BECOMES A VIXEN OR A CAT.
A FAMILY THAT IS BLESSED WITH HEALTHY
REPRODUCTIVE HABITS
OCCASIONS THE REMARK “WELL YOU KNOW THEM –
THEY BREED LIKE RABBITS!”
“HE’S AS STUBBORN AS A MULE!”
“HE’S AS STUPID AS AN OX!”
“HE’S AS SLIMY AS A SNAKE!”
“HE’S AS CRAFTY AS A FOX!”
Remarks like that really get my goat!
WHY CAN’T WE SAY “NOBLE AS A FROG”?
WHY DON’T WE SAY “HEALTHY AS A HEN”?
TRUE WE SAY”DEVOTED AS A DOG” –
BUT WHAT WE SHOULD SAY IS “CHIC AS A GIRAFFE!”
“PRETTY AS A PIG!” EH?
THAT’LL BE THE BIG DAY,
WON’T IT? BUT WHEN?……BUT WHEN?……BUT WHEN……?
WHEN WILL WE STOP TREATING THEM LIKE ANIMALS?
IS THE HUMAN RACE ENTIRELY MAD?
WOMEN SEE A BABY GOATSKIN –
OR A LAMBSKIN OR A STOATSKIN –
AND TO THEM IT’S JUST A COATSKIN!
OH, IT’S TERRIBLY SAD!
WHEN YOU DRESS IN SUEDE OR LEATHER,
OR SOME FANCY FUR OR FEATHER,
DO YOU STOP AND WONDER WHETHER,
FOR A FAD,
YOU HAVE KILLED SOME BEAST OR OTHER? –
THAT YOU’RE WEARING SOMEONE’S BROTHER? –
OR PERHAPS IT’S SOMEONE’S MOTHER
IN WHICH YOU’RE CLAD! –
LIKE ANIMALS! LIKE ANIMALS! LIKE ANIMALS!
IT’S TRUE WE DO NOT LIVE IN A ZOO…
BUT MAN IS AN ANIMAL, TOO!
SO WHY CAN’T YOU –
LIKE ME –
LIKE ANIMALS?……ANIMALS!
Doctor Dolittle, The Vegetarian
THE DAY THAT I BECAME A VET’RINARIAN,
I HAD A SUDDEN OVERWHELMING WISH
TO BE A PURE AND SIMPLE VEGETARIAN –
AND GIVE UP EATING ALL THAT MEAT AND FISH.
TOMMY
I think that’s marvellous!
MATTHEW
Meat’s very unhealthy for you!
DOLITTLE
Yes……
SO NOW I LIVE ON HEALTHY FOOD INSTEAD! –
LIKE APPLE CORES
AND PARSNIP JUICE –
AND CHUNKS OF PLAIN BROWN BREAD!
WHEN I SEE MY FELLOW MEN
CONSUMING SIRLOIN STEAK –
AND I FIND MYSELF ENJOYING TEA AND DUNDEE CAKE –
THERE IS REALLY ONLY ONE CONCLUSION I CAN MAKE –
I’M A DEVOTED VEGETARIAN!
No, you don’t, you little pig! You’ve had yours! Oh all right, then
– but only
a little! You see what I mean? This is his tenth meal today!
WHEN MY HOST AT DINNER OFFERS
SUCCULENT ROAST BEEF
PROUDLY I REFUSE IT. PEOPLE STARE IN DISBELIEF,
LOST IN ADMIRATION AS I NIBBLE ON A LEAF
A VERY NOTED VEGETARIAN!
I don’t even eat horseradish, in case I upset the horses!
I STAY AWAY FROM DEVILLED HAM ON PRINCIPLE! –
I WOULDN’T EAT ROAST DUCKLING IF I COULD!
WILL POWER HAS MADE ME INVINCIBLE!…
MY WORD, THOSE SAUSAGES DO LOOK GOOD!
TURNIP PIE AND PEANUTS –
THAT’S THE SORT OF FILTH I EAT!
ANY SORT OF RUBBISH
THAT IS WHOLESOME AND DISCREET!
WHY DON’T I ADMIT THAT MY HYPOCRISY’S COMPLETE?
IF I SHOULD LIVE TO BE A CENTENARIAN –
BECOME OUR MOST ADORED HUMANITARIAN –
I’LL NEVER MAKE A DECENT VEGETARIAN! –
I’M A CHEAT!
I LOVE MEAT
I’M A CHEAT
YES, I AM!
I LOVE RED-BLOODED JUICY CHUNKS OF MEAT!-
LEGS OF LAMB!
SIDES OF BEEF ‘N’ CHOPS ‘N’ STEAK ‘N’ VEAL!
AND PORK, OF COURSE! – MY FAVOURITE MEAL!
AND THEN I HEAR POOR GUB-GUB SQUEAL!
OH ME! OH MY! –
A RELUCTANT BUT SINCERE VEGETARIAN
AM I!
INQUIRIM VITAE 