Gunga Din

Lyrics

You may talk o' gin and beer When you're quartered safe out 'ere An' you're sent to penny-fights an' Aldershot it; But when it comes to slaughter You will do your work on water An' you'll lick the bloomin' boots of 'im that's got it Now in Injia's sunny clime Where I used to spend my time A-servin' of 'Er Majesty the Queen Of all them blackfaced crew The finest man I knew Was our regimental bhisti, Gunga Din He was 'Din! Din! Din! 'You limpin' lump o' brick-dust, Gunga Din! 'Hi! Slippy hitherao 'Water, get it! Panee lao 'You squidgy-nosed old idol, Gunga Din.' The uniform 'e wore Was nothin' much beforе An' rather less than 'arf o' that be'ind For a piеce o' twisty rag An' a goatskin water-bag Was all the field-equipment 'e could find When the sweatin' troop-train lay In a sidin' through the day Where the 'eat would make your bloomin' eyebrows crawl We shouted 'Harry By!' Till our throats were bricky-dry Then we wopped 'im 'cause 'e couldn't serve us all It was 'Din! Din! Din! 'You 'eathen, where the mischief 'ave you been? 'You put some juldee in it 'Or I'll marrow you this minute 'If you don't fill up my helmet, Gunga Din!' 'E would dot an' carry one Till the longest day was done; An' 'e didn't seem to know the use o' fear If we charged or broke or cut You could bet your bloomin' nut 'E'd be waitin' fifty paces right flank rear With 'is mussick on 'is back 'E would skip with our attack An' watch us till the bugles made 'Retire,' An' for all 'is dirty 'ide 'E was white, clear white, inside When 'e went to tend the wounded under fire! It was 'Din! Din! Din!' With the bullets kickin' dust-spots on the green When the cartridges ran out You could hear the front-ranks shout 'Hi! ammunition-mules an' Gunga Din!' I shan't forgit the night When I dropped be'ind the fight With a bullet where my belt-plate should 'a' been I was chokin' mad with thirst An' the man that spied me first Was our good old grinnin', gruntin' Gunga Din 'E lifted up my 'ead An' he plugged me where I bled An' 'e guv me 'arf-a-pint o' water green It was crawlin' and it stunk But of all the drinks I've drunk I'm gratefullest to one from Gunga Din It was 'Din! Din! Din! ''Ere's a beggar with a bullet through 'is spleen; ''E's chawin' up the ground 'An' 'e's kickin' all around: 'For Gawd's sake git the water, Gunga Din!' 'E carried me away To where a dooli lay An' a bullet come an' drilled the beggar clean 'E put me safe inside An' just before 'e died 'I 'ope you liked your drink,' sez Gunga Din So I'll meet 'im later on At the place where 'e is gone— Where it's always double drill and no canteen 'E'll be squattin' on the coals Givin' drink to poor damned souls An' I'll get a swig in hell from Gunga Din! Yes, Din! Din! Din! You Lazarushian-leather Gunga Din! Though I've belted you and flayed you By the livin' Gawd that made you You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!