American Old Time Song Lyrics: 45 Private Tommy Atkins

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 45

Home Songster main V01 V02 V03 V04 V05 V06 V07 V08 V09 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33 V34 V35 V36 V37 V38 V39 V40 V41 V42 V43 V44 V45 V46 V47 V48 V49 V50 V51 V52 V53 V54 V55 V56 V57 V58 V59 V60 V61 Support Search



Share page  Visit Us On FB


PRIVATE TOMMY ATKINS.
Words by Henry Hamilton. Music by S. Potter.

Oh, we take him from the city or the plow,
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!-

Chorus.
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 "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 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.-Chorus.

In war-time then its "Tommy to the front,"
And we ship him off in "troopers" to the scene;
We sit at home while Tommy bears the brunt,
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 our flag a-flying, he's a-doing and a-dying,
Every inch of him a soldier and a man.-Chorus,

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, hat we're proud of you and love you-
God keep you, Tommy, still, by land And Sea.- Chorus.
Download music lyrics PDF file For Printing with (no ads)
Download music lyrics in RTF file For editing / printing with Word and other editing software.
Download music lyrics as PNG Graphic file For inclusion in DTP etc.