Day 20: Tommy
Song Information
Another of Kipling's Barrack Room Ballads, this is another case of Kipling writing something decrying the treatment of soldiers who were off “protecting” those at home. Kipling first published this under the title The Queen's Uniform but retitled it Tommy in the collection.
We again come to the unfortunate problem of Kipling being an ardent Imperialist, but also capable of writing some absolutely scathing satire at those who treat soldiers with contempt during peace-time while banner waving at times of war. I suppose in this instance that's because Kipling was banner waving throughout.
A couple of interesting lines that need a bit of explanation:
- Tommy Atkins
- For some reason Tommy Atkins was a generic slang term for a soldier, based entirely on a War Office manual using it as a placeholder name from what I've seen.
- The Thin Red Line of 'Eroes
- In the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean war, the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders formed a line against the Russian cavalry - which was described as a “thin red streak tipped with a line of steel”
- The Widow's Uniform
- The Widow in this case is Queen Victoria who was nicknamed The Widow of Windsor
Listen to the Song
Lyrics
O 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,
Well I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
Well it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
When the band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
It’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.
So I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but they ’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,
When the troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
It’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.
Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms what 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
Well, 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 the “Thin red line of ’eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
When the drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
It’s the “Thin red line of ’eroes” when the drums begin to roll.
Well, we aren’t no thin red ’eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
We’re just 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
When there’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
It’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.
Now 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 them cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
Thatte Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
But it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But he’s a “Hero of ’is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
Well’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
But’ Tommy ain’t no bleedin’ fool—you bet that Tommy sees!