Private Tommy Atkins 1894 'A Gaiety Girl'

Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK - 28 Dec 2003

Oh, we take him from the city or the plough,
and we drill him and we dress him up so neat:
We teach him to uphold his manly brow,
and how to walk, and where to put his feet.
It doesn't matter who he was before,
or what his parents fancied for his name;
Once he's pocketed the shilling,
and a uniform he's filling,
we call him Tommy Atkins, all the same.

Oh! Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
you're a "good un," heart and hand;
you're a credit to your calling,
and to all your native land;
may your luck be never failing,
may your love be ever true!
God Bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

Oh! Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
you're a "good un," heart and hand;
you're a credit to your calling,
and to all your native land;
may your luck be never failing,
may your love be ever true!
God Bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

In time of peace, he hears the bugle call,
In Barracks, from "Revally" to Lights out!"
And if "Sentry" go and "Pipeclay" ever pall,
there's always plenty more of work about.
On leave, o' nights you meet him in the street,
as happy as a schoolboy, and as gay;
Then back he goes to duty.
all for England, home and beauty,
and the noble sum of thirteen pence a day.

Oh! Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
you're a "good un," heart and hand;
you're a credit to your calling,
and to all your native land;
may your luck be never failing,
may your love be ever true!
God Bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

Oh! Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
you're a "good un," heart and hand;
you're a credit to your calling,
and to all your native land;
may your luck be never failing,
may your love be ever true!
God Bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

In wartime, then, it's "Tommy to the Front!"
And we ship him off
in "Troopers" to the scene;
We sit at home while Tommy bears the brunt.
Afighting for his country and his Queen.
And whether he's on India's coral strand
or pouring out his blood in the Sudan,
To keep the flag aflying,
he's adoing and adying,
ev'ry inch of him a soldier and a man.

Oh! Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
you're a "good un," heart and hand;
you're a credit to your calling,
and to all your native land;
may your luck be never failing,
may your love be ever true!
God Bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

Oh! Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
you're a "good un," heart and hand;
you're a credit to your calling,
and to all your native land;
may your luck be never failing,
may your love be ever true!
God Bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

So Tommy, dear,
we'll back you 'gainst the world,
For fighting or for funning or for work;
Wherever Britain's banner is unfurled,
To do your best, and never, never shirk.
We keep the warmest corner in our hearts
for you, my lad, wherever you may be.
By the Union Jack above you,
but we're proud of you and love you
God keep you, Tommy, still by land and sea!

Oh! Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
you're a "good un," heart and hand;
you're a credit to your calling,
and to all your native land;
may your luck be never failing,
may your love be ever true!
God Bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

Oh! Tommy, Tommy Atkins,
you're a "good un," heart and hand;
you're a credit to your calling,
and to all your native land;
may your luck be never failing,
may your love be ever true!
God Bless you, Tommy Atkins,
Here's your Country's love to you!

Soft karaoke
Words
str 25
str 50
str 110
fr hrn 60
brass 75
flute
timp
bassoon
clarinet
piano t clef
oboe
pizz str
glock
tenor sax
harp
drum
*
Private Tommy Atkins 1894
Music by S. Potter
Lyrics by Henry Hamilton
copyright 1894 by T. B. Harms and Co.
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Sunday 28 December 2003 at 00.34
in association with Doug Grierson
*
This was a song from a Musical Comedy called
"A Gaiety Girl"
*
From 1815 and throughout the 19th century Thomas Atkins
was the name used in the specimen form, accompanying
the official manual issued to all Army recruits, supplied
to show them how their own form requiring details of
name, age, date of enlistment, etc. should be filled in.
*