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  –  This page – listed by title  – View listed by first line

Title First line Notes
The Ballad of Boh da Thone Boh Da Thone was a warrior bold
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
The Ballad of the ‘Clampherdown’ It was our war-ship Clampherdown
The Ballad of the King’s Jest When spring-time flushes the desert grass
The Ballad of the King’s Mercy Abdhur Rahman, the Durani Chief, of him is the story told
Belts There was a row in Silver Street that’s near to Dublin Quay
Cells I’ve a head like a concertina, I’ve a tongue like a button-stick
Cleared Help for a patriot distressed, a spotless spirit hurt
The Conundrum of the Workshops When the flush of a new-born sun fell first on Eden’s green and gold
Danny Deever What are the bugles blowin’ for?’ said Files-on-Parade
The English Flag Winds of the World, give answer! They are whimpering to and fro-
Evarra and his Gods This is the story of Evarra – man
The Explanation Although, as I fancy you know, I’m familiar with phrases that pain and annoy
Ford o’ Kabul River Kabul town’s by Kabul river-
Fuzzy Wuzzy We’ve fought with many men acrost the seas
Gentlemen-rankers To the legion of the lost ones, to the cohort of the damned
The Gift of the Sea The dead child lay in the shroud
Gunga Din You may talk o’ gin and beer
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 Last Suttee Udai Chand lay sick to death
The Legend of Evil This is the sorrowful story
L’Envoi to Barrack-Room Ballads When Earth’s last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried
L’Envoi to Life’s Handicap My new-cut ashlar takes the light
Loot If you’ve ever stole a pheasant-egg be’ind the keeper’s back
Mandalay By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin’ lazy at the sea
Oonts Wot makes the soldier’s ‘eart to penk, wot makes ‘im to perspire?
The Rhyme of the Three Captains At the close of a winter day
Route Marchin’ We’re marchin’ on relief over Injia’s sunny plains
The Sacrifice of Er-heb Er-Heb beyond the Hills of Ao-Safai
Screw-Guns Smokin’ my pipe on the mountings, sniffin’ the mornin’ cool
Shillin’ a Day My name is O’Kelly, I’ve heard the Revelly
Snarleyow’ This ‘appened in a battle toa batt’ry of the corps
Soldier, Soldier Soldier, soldier come from the wars
To T.A. I have made for you a song
To Wolcott Balestier Beyond the path of the outmost sun through utter darknesss hurled
Tommy I went into a public-‘ouse to get a pint o’ beer
Troopin’ Troopin’, troopin’, troopin’ to the sea
The Widow at Windsor Ave you ‘eard o’ the Widow at Windsor
The Widow’s Party Where have you been this while away
With Scindia to Delhi The wreath of banquet overnight lay withered on the neck
The Young British Soldier When the ‘arf-made recruity goes out to the East