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WHEN you've shouted " Rule Britannia," when
you've sung " God save the Queen,"
When you've finished killing Kruger with your
mouth,
Will you kindly drop a shilling in my little
tambourine
For a gentleman in khaki ordered South?
He's an absent-minded beggar, and his weaknesses
are great -
But we and Paul must take him as we find him -
He is out on active service, wiping something
off a slate
And he's left a lot of little things behind him!
Duke's son - cook's son - son of a hundred kings
(Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table
Bay!)
Each of 'em doing his country's work
(and who's to look after their things?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay -
pay - pay !
There are girls he married secret, asking no
permission to,
For he knew he wouldn't get it if he did.
There is gas and coals and vittles, and the
house-rent falling due,
And its more than rather likely there’s a kid.
There are girls he’s walked with casual. They’ll
be sorry now he’s gone,
For an absent-minded beggar they will find him,
But it ain’t the time for sermons with the
winter coming on
We must help the girl that Tommy’s left behind
him!
Cook's son - Duke's son - son of a belted Earl
Son of a Lambeth publican - it's all the same
to-day !
Each of 'em doing his country's work
(and who's to look after the girl?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay -
pay - pay !
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There are families by thousands, far too
proud to beg or speak,
And they'll put their sticks and bedding
up the spout,
And they'll live on half o' nothing,
paid 'em punctual once a week,
'Cause the man that earns the wage is
ordered out.
He's an absent-minded beggar, but he
heard his country call,
And his reg'rnent didn't need to send to
find him!
He chucked his job and joined it - so the
job before us all
Is to help the home that Tommy's left
behind him !
Duke's job - cook's job - gardener,
baronet, groom.
Mews or palace or paper-shop, there's
someone gone away!
Each of 'em doing his country's work
(and who's to look after the room?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and
pay - pay - pay !
Let us manage so as, later, we can look
him in the face,
And tell him - what he'd very much
prefer
That, while he saved the Empire, his
employer saved his place,
And his mates (that's you and me) looked
out for her.
He's an absent-minded beggar and he may
forget it all,
But we do not want his kiddies to remind
him
That we sent 'em to the workhouse while
their daddy hammered Paul,
So we'll help the homes that Tommy left
behind him !
Cook's home - Duke's home - home of a
millionaire,
(Fifty thousand horse and foot going to
Table Bay !)
Each of 'em doing his country's work
(and what have you got to spare?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and
pay - pay - pay !
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