Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/506

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* four-pence 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.
T isn'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.