"Tommy" by Rudyard Kipling

[MORTARDUDE]

TOMMY

by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)



I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
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,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
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.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

[frisco-kid]

Maybe my favorite Kipling poem; as true today as it was 100+ years ago. Kipling was always a friend of the common soldier, and many of his poems and stories reflect that friendship. Some good readin' folks, if you're ever in the mood.

Thanks, Larry.

[revwardoc]

An' 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy,
With your ragged 'ead of 'air,
You're a poor beknighted 'eathan,
But you broke a British Square!

Not only did Kipling write about the average "Tommy", but he paid homage to one of the many foes "Tommy" faced throughout history in the epic poem, "Fuzzy-Wuzzy" about the battles in the Sudan. Did anyone see that old Hollywood movie, "Ghunga Din", with Cary Grant, Victor McGlaglen, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Sam Jaffe in the title role? It was one of the great action films of all time with some exciting battle scenes, dynamic music and some very funny moments. In the final scene all the major players are gathered round Din's body as the pipes are playing in the background and the Regiment's colonel reads the last few lines of Kipling's (who had accompanied the column) poem; a real tear-jerker of an ending.

If you like stories about British soldiers, read "Quartered Safe Out Here" by George MacDonald Fraser (the author of the "Flashman" series). Its his first hand accounts of his actions in SE Asia during WWII and the title is from another Kipling poem. Good stuff.

[grunt66]

Gentlemen , you have excellent taste. Kipling is one of my favorite authors.

And so is George McDonald Fraser. " Quartered Safe Out Here" is excellent several friends have complained about the British slang but it is droll soldiers humor at its best .