Barrack Room Ballads

Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling

Barrack Room Ballads

Dedication

В В В В To T. A.

I have made for you a song,

And it may be right or wrong,

But only you can tell me if it’s true;

I have tried for to explain

Both your pleasure and your pain,

And, Thomas, here’s my best respects to you!

O there’ll surely come a day

When they’ll give you all your pay,

And treat you as a Christian ought to do;

So, until that day comes round,

Heaven keep you safe and sound,

And, Thomas, here’s my best respects to you!

В В В В R. K.

First Series (1892)

Danny Deever

“What are the bugles blowin’ for?” said Files-on-Parade.

“To turn you out, to turn you out”, the Colour-Sergeant said.

“What makes you look so white, so white?” said Files-on-Parade.

“I’m dreadin’ what I’ve got to watch”, the Colour-Sergeant said.

For they’re hangin’ Danny Deever, you can hear the Dead March play,

The regiment’s in �ollow square – they’re hangin’ him to-day;

They’ve taken of his buttons off an’ cut his stripes away,

An’ they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.

“What makes the rear-rank breathe so �ard?” said Files-on-Parade.

“It’s bitter cold, it’s bitter cold”, the Colour-Sergeant said.

“What makes that front-rank man fall down?” said Files-on-Parade.

“A touch o’ sun, a touch o’ sun”, the Colour-Sergeant said.

They are hangin’ Danny Deever, they are marchin’ of �im round,

They �ave �alted Danny Deever by �is coffin on the ground;

An’ �e’ll swing in �arf a minute for a sneakin’ shootin’ hound —

O they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’!

“�Is cot was right-’and cot to mine”, said Files-on-Parade.

“�E’s sleepin’ out an’ far to-night”, the Colour-Sergeant said.

“I’ve drunk �is beer a score o’ times”, said Files-on-Parade.

“�E’s drinkin’ bitter beer alone”, the Colour-Sergeant said.

They are hangin’ Danny Deever, you must mark �im to �is place,

For �e shot a comrade sleepin’ – you must look �im in the face;

Nine �undred of �is county an’ the regiment’s disgrace,

While they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.

“What’s that so black agin’ the sun?” said Files-on-Parade.

“It’s Danny fightin’ �ard for life”, the Colour-Sergeant said.

“What’s that that whimpers over’ead?” said Files-on-Parade.

“It’s Danny’s soul that’s passin’ now”, the Colour-Sergeant said.

For they’re done with Danny Deever, you can �ear the quickstep play,

The regiment’s in column, an’ they’re marchin’ us away;

Ho! the young recruits are shakin’, an’ they’ll want their beer to-day,

After hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.

Tommy

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 star