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. You talk of better food for us, and schools, and fires, and all: We’ll wait for extra rations if you treat us rational. We aren’t no thin red heroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too, But single men in barracks, most remarkable like you And if sometimes our conduct isn’t all your fancy paints, Why, single men in barracks don’t grow into plaster saints While it’s Tommy this, and Tommy that, and “Tommy, fall behind”, 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. Then it’s Tommy this, and Tommy that, and “Tommy, how’s your soul?” But it’s “ Thin red line of heroes” 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 heroes” when the drums begin to roll. Yes, making mock of uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, and they’re starvation cheap And hustling drunken soldiers when they’re going large a bit Is five times better business than parading in full kit.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but hadn’t none for me They sent me to the gallery or round the music-halls, But when it comes to fighting, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls! For it’s Tommy this, and Tommy that, and “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. I went into a public-house to get a pint of beer, The publican he up and says, “We serve no red-coats here.” The girls behind the bar they laughed and giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again and to myself says I: O it’s Tommy this, and Tommy that, and “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.
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