From the 1894 musical comedy “A Gaiety Girl”.
Words by Henry Hamilton.
Music by S. Potter.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. 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
CHORUS
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
2. In time of peace, he hears the bugle call
In Barracks, from “Revally” to “Lights out”
And if “Sentry” go and “Pipe-clay” ever pall
There’s always plenty more of work about
On leave, o’ nights, you meet him in the street
As happy as a school-boy, and as gay
Then back he goes to duty
All for England, home, and beauty
And the noble sum of thirteen pence a day
3. 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 of
A-fighting for his country and his Queen
And whether he’s on India’s coral strand
Or pouring out his blood in the Soudan
To keep the flag a-flying
He’s a-doing and a-dying
Every inch of him a soldier and a man
4. So Tommy, dear, we’ll back you ‘against 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