Tommy

Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling portrait

1865 to 1936

Poem Image
Track 1

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While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";

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