Lyr Req: Back to the Army Again (Rudyard Kipling)

Subject: RE: Kipling's back to the army again
From: lamarca
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 06:18 PM

One of the great treats of Pinewoods Folk Music Week 2001(?) was getting to see Dave Webber and Brian Peters re-create their stage version of this song. The Widow's Uniform started out as a theater piece of Kipling soldier songs from Barrack Room Ballads and other places that had been set by Peter Bellamy. As I'm in the US, I never got a chance to see the production, but Dave and Anni and Brian seemed to have great fun remembering both the songs and the theater bits that they hadn't done for several years!

Subject: RE: Kipling's back to the army again
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 07:49 PM

Posted before, but here again is Kipling's Complete Poems: Kipling Complete Poems

Subject: RE: Kiplings':back to the army again
From: Micca
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 08:09 AM

This is the original poem from a complete Kipling Poems collection, hope it helps!1
"Back To the Army Again"
I'm 'ere in a ticky ulster an' a broken billycock 'at,
A-layin' on 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 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 barrik-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 troopship 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!

Subject: Kiplings':back to the army again
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 07:28 AM

Hi there,
Does anyone have the words to Kipling's poem 'Back to the army again' (set to a tune by Peter Bellamy I believe). I've got the recording of the widow's uniform, (Dave, Annie, Brian Peters + crew) but for some reason I can't make out all the words- I know the song quite well, but want the exact words, instead of mumbling or making something up!

Can anyone help?
Cheers
Guest