Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads/Shillin' a Day

by Rudyard Kipling

For other versions of this work, see Shillin' a Day.

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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.’
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.
  (Chorus.) Shillin’ a day
  (Chorus.)  Bloomin’ good pay—
  (Chorus.)  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,
When we rode Hell-for-leather
Both squadrons together,
That didn’t care whether we lived or we died.
But it’s no use desparin’, my wife must go charin’
An’ me commissairin’ the pay-bills to better,
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—
(Full Chorus.)  Can’t do no better
(Full Chorus.)  Late Troop-Sergeant Major an’—runs with a letter!
(Full Chorus.)  Think what ’e’s been,
(Full Chorus.)  Think what ’e’s seen,
(Full Chorus.)  Think of his pension an’
(Full Chorus.)  Gawd Save The Queen!