| Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922. | | | | Shillin’ a Day |
| | | MY name is O’Kelly, I’ve heard the Revelly | |
| From Birr to Bareilly, from Leeds to Lahore, | |
| Hong-Kong and Peshawur. | |
| Lucknow and Etawah, | |
| And fifty-five more all endin’ in “pore.” | 5 |
| Black Death and his quickness, the depth and the thickness, | |
| Of sorrow and sickness I’ve known on my way, | |
| But I’m old and I’m nervis, | |
| I’m cast from the Service, | |
| And all I deserve is a shillin’ a day. | 10 |
| |
| (Chorus) Shillin’ a day, | |
| Bloomin’ good pay— | |
| Lucky to touch it, a shillin’ a day! | |
| |
| Oh, it drives me half crazy to think of the days I | |
| Went slap for the Ghazi, my sword at my side, | 15 |
| When we rode Hell-for-leather | |
| Both squadrons together, | |
| That didn’t care whether we lived or we died. | |
| But it’s no use despairin’, my wife must go charin’ | |
| An’ me commissairin’, the pay-bills to better, | 20 |
| So if me you be’old | |
| In the wet and the cold, | |
| By the Grand Metropold won’t you give me a letter? | |
| |
| (Full chorus) Give ’im a letter— | |
| ’Can’t do no better, | 25 |
| Late Troop-Sergeant-Major an’—runs with a letter! | |
| Think what ’e’s been, | |
| Think what ’e’s seen. | |
| Think of his pension an’—— | |
| GAWD SAVE THE QUEEN! | 30 | | | |
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