Rudyard Kipling -- The Bard of British Imperialism

The Verse of
Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling was, in his grand style, the bard of British Imperialism, and in his dialect poems, the voice of the common soldier. Anyone interested in the military history of the period owes it to himself to become at least passingly familiar with Kipling's soldierly verse.

Kipling is often ignored today, because his exultation in the supposed moral and cultural superiority of European (and specifically British) civilization makes liberal-minded twentieth-century readers wince. But the human virtues that Kipling is most concerned with - courage, duty, honor, decency, commitment and grit - he is quick to recognize in men and women from all classes and races. That he shared and promoted the near-universal prejudices of the pre-Twentieth Century worldview should not diminish our appreciation of his artistic achievements.

Aside from the normal problems to be expected of reading century-old poetry, reading Kipling introduces a few extra difficulties; born and reared in India, he liberally seasons his verse with Asian and African words, and his soldier poems are written in the lower-class dialect of the archetypical British enlisted man, dropping final "g"s and any "h"s which are normally sounded. In the selections below, the gloss on the right side of the work explains any terms not obvious to the average American reader, but because of the variables of web publishing, the glossed word may not appear directly opposite the line it refers to in any particular browser, monitor and operating system; so the reader may have to hunt a bit.

For those who wish to explore further, there is a collection of Kipling's poetry on the Web.

Ubique
Ubique, the Latin word for "everywhere" is the motto of the Royal Artillery.
Proper classical Latin pronunciation is "OO-bik-way," though
Kipling probably pronounced it "oo-BIK-we," and
this pronunciation fits the meter of the poem.

Ubique Royal Artillery There is a word you often see, pronounce it as you may-- "You bike,""you bykwee," "ubbikwe"--alludin' to R.A. It serves 'Orse, Field, an' Garrison as motto for a crest; An' when you've found out all it means I'll tell you 'alf the rest.
Ubique means the long-range Krupp be'ind the low-range 'ill-- Ubique means you'll pick it up an', while you do, stand still. Ubique means you've caught the flash an' timed it by the sound. Ubique means five gunners' 'ash before you've loosed a round.	Krupp -- German field gun used by the Boers
Ubique means Blue Fuse, an' make the 'ole to sink the trail. Ubique means stand up an' take the Mauser's 'alf-mile 'ail. Ubique means the crazy team not God nor man can 'old. Ubique means that 'orse's scream which turns your innards cold!	Blue Fuse - extreme range fuse for a bursting shell trail -- rear support piece of a gun-carriage Mauser's 'alf-mile 'ail -- the Boers were famed as long-range marksmen with their Mauser rifles.
Ubique means "Bank, 'Olborn, Bank - a penny all the way" - The soothin', jingle-bump-an'-clank from day to peaceful day. Ubique means "They've caught De Wet, an' now we shan't be long." Ubique means "I much regret, the beggar's goin' strong!"	'Olborn, Bank -- A London omnibus line De Wet -- Christiaan De Wet, elusive Boer general of the guerilla phase of the war.
Ubique means the tearin' drift where, breech-blocks jammed with mud, The khaki muzzles duck an' lift across the khaki flood. Ubique means the dancing plain that changes rocks to Boers. Ubique means mirage again an' shellin' all outdoors.	drift -- ford
Ubique means "Entrain at once for Grootdefeatfontein." Ubique means "Off-load your guns" - at midnight in the rain! Ubique means "More mounted men. Return all guns to store." Ubique means the R.A.M.R. Infantillery Corps.	Grootdefeatfontein -- Grootfontein was a site on the Groot river R.A.M.R. -- Royal Artillery Mounted Rifles, formed from artillery companies when mounted infantry were needed.
Ubique means that warnin' grunt the perished linesman knows, When o'er 'is strung an' sufferin' front the shrapnel sprays 'is foes; An' as their firin' dies away the 'usky whisper runs From lips that 'aven't drunk all day: "The Guns! Thank Gawd, the Guns!" Extreme, depressed, point-blank or short, end-first or any'ow, From Colesberg Kop to Quagga's Poort - from Ninety-Nine till now - By what I've 'eard the others tell an' I in spots 'ave seen, There's nothin' this side 'Eaven or 'Ell Ubique doesn't mean!	shrapnel -- bursting shell fragments Ninety-Nine -- 1899, onset of the Boer War

Tommy
"Tommy Atkins," or just "Tommy,"
is the name popularly given to the
archetypical British soldier.

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.

public-house -- a pub, drinking house
publican -- the pub owner

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.

stalls -- prime seats near the stage

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. blackguards -- coarse ruffians
(pronounced "blaggards")

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!

the Widow -- Queen Victoria

"Fuzzy-Wuzzy"
One of Kipling's most famous poems salutes the Sudanese warriors who broke through to the center of a British square at the battle of Abu Klea. The term "Fuzzy-Wuzzy" was used for the black Dervish warriors, especially the Hadendowah, who wore their long hair in a wild exaggerated style.

A square was a four-sided defensive infantry formation with the front ranks kneeling and presenting bayonets while the rear ranks fired. Having no flanks, it was considered impregnable to infantry or cavalry (though vulnerable to artillery fire); until Abu Klea, a fully-formed British square had never been broken by assault.

"Fuzzy-Wuzzy"
Soudan Expeditionary Force, Early Campaigns

We've fought with many men acrost the seas,
..........And some of 'em was brave an' some was not:
The Paythan an' the Zulu an' Burmese;
..........But the Fuzzy was the finest o' the lot.
We never got a ha'porth's change of 'im:
..........'E squatted in the scrub and 'ocked our 'orses,
'E cut our sentries up at Suakim,
..........An' 'e played the cat an' banjo with our forces.
...............So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan;
...............Yore a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man;
...............We gives you your certificate, an' if you want it signed,
...............We'll come an' 'ave a romp with you whenever you're inclined.

ha'porth -- half-pennyworth

We took our chanst among the Kyber 'ills,
..........The Boers knocked us silly at a mile,
The Burman guv us Irriwaddy chills,
..........An' a Zulu impi dished us up in style:
But all we ever got from such as they
..........Was pop to what the Fuzzy made us swaller;
We 'eld our bloomin' own, the papers say,
..........But man for man the Fuzzy knocked us 'oller.
...............Then 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an' the missis and the kid:
...............Our orders was to break you, an' of course we went an' did.
...............We sloshed you with Martinis, an' it wasn't 'ardly fair;
...............But for all the odds agin' you, Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square.

Irriwaddy -- the great river of Burma
impi -- the Zulu word for
an army or regiment.

Martini -- the Martini-Henry , Britain's breechloading service rifle

'E 'asn't got no papers of 'is own,
..........'E 'asn't got no medals nor rewards,
So we must certify the skill 'e's shown
..........In usin' of 'is long two-'anded swords:
When 'e's 'oppin' in an' out among the bush
..........With 'is coffin-'eaded shield an' shovel-spear,
An 'appy day with Fuzzy on the rush
..........Will last an 'ealthy Tommy for a year.
...............So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an' your friends which are no more,
...............If we 'adn't lost some messmates we would 'elp you to deplore.
...............But give an' take's the gospel, an' we'll call the bargain fair,
...............For if you 'ave lost more than us, you crumpled up the square!

'E rushes at the smoke when we let drive,
..........An', before we know, 'e's 'ackin' at our 'ead;
'E's all 'ot sand an' ginger when alive,
..........An' 'e's generally shammin' when 'e's dead.
'E's a daisy, 'e's a ducky, 'e's a lamb!
..........'E's a injia-rubber idiot on a spree,
'E's the on'y thing that doesn't give a damn
..........For a Regiment o' British Infantree!
...............So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan;
...............You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man;
...............An' 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with your 'ayrick 'ead of 'air -
...............You big black boundin' beggar - for you broke a British square!

ayrick -- hayrick (haystack)

The Young British Soldier
Here the poet gives advice to the new recruit on how to survive and succeed in the Army.

The Young British Soldier When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East 'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast, An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier. Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, So-oldier OF the Queen!	'arf -- half ere -- before
Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day, You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay, An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may: A soldier what's fit for a soldier. Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .	lay -- song or verse
First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts, For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts -- Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts -- An' it's bad for the young British soldier. Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .	grog -- liquor butts -- rifle-butts had steel plates to protect them from splitting.
When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt -- Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout, For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out, An' it crumples the young British soldier. Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .	on the shout-- on a drinking spree
But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead: You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said: If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead, An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier. Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .
If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind, Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind; Be handy and civil, and then you will find That it's beer for the young British soldier. Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .	fatigue -- labor duties, such as digging
Now, if you must marry, take care she is old -- A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told, For beauty won't help if your rations is cold, Nor love ain't enough for a soldier. 'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . .
If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath To shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! -- Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both, An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier. Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .	loath -- unwilling
When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck, Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck, Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luck And march to your front like a soldier. Front, front, front like a soldier . . .
When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch, Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch; She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich, An' she'll fight for the young British soldier. Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .	Martini -- the Martini-Henry , Britain's breechloading service rifle
When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine, The guns o' the enemy wheel into line, Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine, For noise never startles the soldier. Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .	bustles -- the exaggerated posteriors of high-Victorian ladies dresses limbers -- small wagons to which guns were hitched, carrying supplies and ammunition
If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white, Remember it's ruin to run from a fight: So take open order, lie down, and sit tight, And wait for supports like a soldier. Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .	open order -- a spread-out formation supports -- reinforcements
When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains An' go to your Gawd like a soldier. Go, go, go like a soldier, Go, go, go like a soldier, Go, go, go like a soldier, So-oldier OF the Queen!	cut up -- the Afghan women were said to mutilate enemy dead and wounded

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.	public-house -- a pub, drinking house publican -- the pub owner
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.	stalls -- prime seats near the stage
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.	blackguards -- coarse ruffians (pronounced "blaggards")
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!	the Widow -- Queen Victoria

"Fuzzy-Wuzzy" Soudan Expeditionary Force, Early Campaigns We've fought with many men acrost the seas, ..........And some of 'em was brave an' some was not: The Paythan an' the Zulu an' Burmese; ..........But the Fuzzy was the finest o' the lot. We never got a ha'porth's change of 'im: ..........'E squatted in the scrub and 'ocked our 'orses, 'E cut our sentries up at Suakim, ..........An' 'e played the cat an' banjo with our forces. ...............So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan; ...............Yore a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man; ...............We gives you your certificate, an' if you want it signed, ...............We'll come an' 'ave a romp with you whenever you're inclined.	ha'porth -- half-pennyworth
We took our chanst among the Kyber 'ills, ..........The Boers knocked us silly at a mile, The Burman guv us Irriwaddy chills, ..........An' a Zulu impi dished us up in style: But all we ever got from such as they ..........Was pop to what the Fuzzy made us swaller; We 'eld our bloomin' own, the papers say, ..........But man for man the Fuzzy knocked us 'oller. ...............Then 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an' the missis and the kid: ...............Our orders was to break you, an' of course we went an' did. ...............We sloshed you with Martinis, an' it wasn't 'ardly fair; ...............But for all the odds agin' you, Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square.	Irriwaddy -- the great river of Burma impi -- the Zulu word for an army or regiment. Martini -- the Martini-Henry , Britain's breechloading service rifle
'E 'asn't got no papers of 'is own, ..........'E 'asn't got no medals nor rewards, So we must certify the skill 'e's shown ..........In usin' of 'is long two-'anded swords: When 'e's 'oppin' in an' out among the bush ..........With 'is coffin-'eaded shield an' shovel-spear, An 'appy day with Fuzzy on the rush ..........Will last an 'ealthy Tommy for a year. ...............So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an' your friends which are no more, ...............If we 'adn't lost some messmates we would 'elp you to deplore. ...............But give an' take's the gospel, an' we'll call the bargain fair, ...............For if you 'ave lost more than us, you crumpled up the square!
'E rushes at the smoke when we let drive, ..........An', before we know, 'e's 'ackin' at our 'ead; 'E's all 'ot sand an' ginger when alive, ..........An' 'e's generally shammin' when 'e's dead. 'E's a daisy, 'e's a ducky, 'e's a lamb! ..........'E's a injia-rubber idiot on a spree, 'E's the on'y thing that doesn't give a damn ..........For a Regiment o' British Infantree! ...............So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan; ...............You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man; ...............An' 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with your 'ayrick 'ead of 'air - ...............You big black boundin' beggar - for you broke a British square!	ayrick -- hayrick (haystack)