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When you`ve shouted "Rule Britannia," when you`ve sung "God save the Queen"--
When you`ve finished killing Kruger with your mouth--
Will you kindly drop a shilling in my little tambourine
For a gentleman in kharki ordered South?
He`s an absent-minded beggar, and his weaknesses are great--
But we and Paul must take him as we find him--
He is out on active service, wiping something off a slate--
And he`s left a lot of little things behind him!
Duke`s son--cook`s son--son of a hundred kings--
(Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bay!)
Each of `em doing his country`s work (and who`s to look after their things?)
Pass the hat for your credit`s sake, and pay--pay--pay!
There are girls he married secret, asking no permission to,
For he knew he wouldn`t get it if he did.
There is gas and coals and vittles, and the house-rent falling due,
And it`s more than rather likely there`s a kid.
There are girls he walked with casual, they`ll be sorry now he`s gone,
For an absent-minded beggar they will find him,
But it ain`t the time for sermons with the winter coming on--
We must help the girl that Tommy`s left behind him!
Cook`s son--Duke`s son--son of a belted Earl--
Son of a Lambeth publican--it`s all the same to-day!
Each of `em doing his country`s work (and who`s to look after the girl?)
Pass the hat for your credit`s sake, and--pay! pay! pay!
There are families by thousands, far too proud to beg or speak--
And they`ll put their sticks and bedding up the spout,
And they`ll live on half o` nothing paid `em punctual once a week,
`Cause the man that earns the wage is ordered out.
He`s an absent-minded beggar, but he heard his country call,
And his reg`ment didn`t need to send to find him:
He chucked his job and joined it--so the job before us all
Is to help the home that Tommy`s left behind him!
Duke`s job--cook`s job--gardener, baronet, groom--
Mews or palace or paper-shop--there`s some one gone away!
Each of `em doing his country`s work (and who`s to look after the room?)
Pass the hat for your credit`s sake, and--pay! pay! pay!
Let us manage so as, later, we can look him in the face,
And tell him--what he`d very much prefer--
That, while he saved the Empire his employer saved his place,
And his mates (that`s you and me) looked out for her.
He`s an absent-minded beggar and he may forget it all,
But we do not want his kiddies to remind him,
That we sent `em to the workhouse while their daddy hammered Paul,
So we`ll help the homes that Tommy left behind him.
Cook`s home--Duke`s home--home of a millionaire--
(Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bay!)
Each of `em doing his country`s work (and what have you got to spare?)
Pass the hat for your credit`s sake, and--pay! pay! pay!
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