Tommy

Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling portrait

1865 to 1936

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Track 1

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

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