---

Rudyard Kipling - "Back To The Army Again"
Work rating: Medium

I`m `ere in a ticky ulster an` a broken billycock `at,
A-layin` on to the sergeant I don`t know a gun from a bat;
My shirt`s doin` duty for jacket, my sock`s stickin` out o` my boots,
An` I`m learnin` the damned old goose-step along o` the new recruits!
 
   Back to the Army again, sergeant,
    Back to the Army again.
   Don`t look so `ard, for I `aven`t no card,
    I`m back to the Army again!
 
I done my six years` service.  `Er Majesty sez:  "Good-day —
You`ll please to come when you`re rung for, an` `ere`s your `ole back-pay;
An` fourpence a day for baccy — an` bloomin` gen`rous, too;
An` now you can make your fortune — the same as your orf`cers do."
 
   Back to the Army again, sergeant,
    Back to the Army again;
   `Ow did I learn to do right-about turn?
    I`m back to the Army again!
 
A man o` four-an`-twenty that `asn`t learned of a trade —
Beside "Reserve" agin` him — `e`d better be never made.
I tried my luck for a quarter, an` that was enough for me,
An` I thought of `Er Majesty`s barricks, an` I thought I`d go an` see.
 
   Back to the Army again, sergeant,
    Back to the Army again;
   `Tisn`t my fault if I dress when I `alt —
    I`m back to the Army again!
 
The sergeant arst no questions, but `e winked the other eye,
`E sez to me, "`Shun!" an` I shunted, the same as in days gone by;
For `e saw the set o` my shoulders, an` I couldn`t `elp `oldin` straight
When me an` the other rookies come under the barrick-gate.
 
   Back to the Army again, sergeant,
    Back to the Army again;
   `Oo would ha` thought I could carry an` port?
    I`m back to the Army again!
 
I took my bath, an` I wallered — for, Gawd, I needed it so!
I smelt the smell o` the barricks, I `eard the bugles go.
I `eard the feet on the gravel — the feet o` the men what drill —
An` I sez to my flutterin` `eart-strings, I sez to `em, "Peace, be still!"
 
   Back to the Army again, sergeant,
    Back to the Army again;
   `Oo said I knew when the ~Jumner~ was due?
    I`m back to the Army again!
 
I carried my slops to the tailor; I sez to `im, "None o` your lip!
You tight `em over the shoulders, an` loose `em over the `ip,
For the set o` the tunic`s `orrid."  An` `e sez to me, "Strike me dead,
But I thought you was used to the business!" an` so `e done what I said.
 
   Back to the Army again, sergeant,
    Back to the Army again.
   Rather too free with my fancies?  Wot — me?
    I`m back to the Army again!
 
Next week I`ll `ave `em fitted; I`ll buy me a swagger-cane;
They`ll let me free o` the barricks to walk on the Hoe again
In the name o` William Parsons, that used to be Edward Clay,
An` — any pore beggar that wants it can draw my fourpence a day!
 
   Back to the Army again, sergeant,
    Back to the Army again:
   Out o` the cold an` the rain, sergeant,
    Out o` the cold an` the rain.
 
                    `Oo`s there?
A man that`s too good to be lost you,
 A man that is `andled an` made —
A man that will pay what `e cost you
 In learnin` the others their trade — parade!
You`re droppin` the pick o` the Army
 Because you don`t `elp `em remain,
But drives `em to cheat to get out o` the street
 An` back to the Army again!
Source
The script ran 0.001 seconds.