They’re relegated to the side.
This role–which they cannot abide,
Which torments Frenchmen day and night–
Can make them do things out of spite.
But could it be the French are right?

And, yes, it sometimes makes one boil
To see what they will do for oil.
For when it comes to heat and light,
Their principles are not in sight.
But could it be the French are right?

And, sure, they come on rather strong
If you pronounce a diphthong wrong.
And even if you’re quite contrite,
They often fail to be polite.
But could it be the French are right?

Yes, could it be these French, despite
The things about them you could cite
(That what they write is often quite
Confused as well as recondite,
That all this Gallic appetite
For food and wine can seem so trite,
That they don’t love to stand and fight,
Nor bathe as often as they might)
By chance are, in this instance, right?