Barrack-Room Ballads and Other Verses

(Notes by Roger Ayers and John McGivering)

View listed in the order determined by Kipling when he was preparing the collection for publication  –  View listed by title  –  This page – listed by first line

Title First line Notes
The Ballad of the King’s Mercy Abdhur Rahman, the Durani Chief, of him is the story told
The Explanation Although, as I fancy you know, I’m familiar with phrases that pain and annoy
The Rhyme of the Three Captains At the close of a winter day
The Widow at Windsor Ave you ‘eard o’ the Widow at Windsor
To Wolcott Balestier Beyond the path of the outmost sun through utter darknesss hurled
The Ballad of Boh da Thone Boh Da Thone was a warrior bold
Mandalay By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin’ lazy at the sea
The Sacrifice of Er-heb Er-Heb beyond the Hills of Ao-Safai
Cleared Help for a patriot distressed, a spotless spirit hurt
To T.A. I have made for you a song
Tommy I went into a public-‘ouse to get a pint o’ beer
Loot If you’ve ever stole a pheasant-egg be’ind the keeper’s back
The Ballad of the ‘Clampherdown’ It was our war-ship Clampherdown
Cells I’ve a head like a concertina, I’ve a tongue like a button-stick
Ford o’ Kabul River Kabul town’s by Kabul river-
Shillin’ a Day My name is O’Kelly, I’ve heard the Revelly
L’Envoi to Life’s Handicap My new-cut ashlar takes the light
An Imperial Rescript Now this is the tale of the Council the German Kaiser decreed
The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief O woe is me for the merry life
The Ballad of East and West Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet
The Ballad of the ‘Bolivar’ Seven men from all the world back to Docks again
Screw-Guns Smokin’ my pipe on the mountings, sniffin’ the mornin’ cool
Soldier, Soldier Soldier, soldier come from the wars
The Gift of the Sea The dead child lay in the shroud
With Scindia to Delhi The wreath of banquet overnight lay withered on the neck
Belts There was a row in Silver Street that’s near to Dublin Quay
Snarleyow’ This ‘appened in a battle toa batt’ry of the corps
The Legend of Evil This is the sorrowful story
Evarra and his Gods This is the story of Evarra – man
Gentlemen-rankers To the legion of the lost ones, to the cohort of the damned
Troopin’ Troopin’, troopin’, troopin’ to the sea
The Last Suttee Udai Chand lay sick to death
Route Marchin’ We’re marchin’ on relief over Injia’s sunny plains
Fuzzy Wuzzy We’ve fought with many men acrost the seas
Danny Deever What are the bugles blowin’ for?’ said Files-on-Parade
L’Envoi to Barrack-Room Ballads When Earth’s last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried
The Ballad of the King’s Jest When spring-time flushes the desert grass
The Young British Soldier When the ‘arf-made recruity goes out to the East
The Conundrum of the Workshops When the flush of a new-born sun fell first on Eden’s green and gold
The Widow’s Party Where have you been this while away
The English Flag Winds of the World, give answer! They are whimpering to and fro-
Oonts Wot makes the soldier’s ‘eart to penk, wot makes ‘im to perspire?
Gunga Din You may talk o’ gin and beer