A catchpenny verse to help the homes that Tommy left behind

In October 1899, Rudyard Kipling wrote the following poem in response to a request from Alfred Harmsworth, proprietor of the then recently established Daily Mail, whose aim was to raise money through the newspaper for the British soldiers, many reservists, fighting the Second Boer War (1899–1902) in South Africa. (The mentions of ‘Kruger’ and ‘Paul’ in the poem refer to Paul Kruger, then president of the South African Republic.) ‘It's catchpenny verse’, Kipling told Harmsworth, ‘and I want it to catch just as many pennies as it can.’ Lord Arthur Sullivan set the poem to music, and it is thought that 'The Absent-minded Beggar' ultimately raised around £250,000 (then a vast sum) through, for example, print and merchandise sales, royalties and admissions fees charged for recitals and performances of the poem. This money was indeed used to help the wives and children of regular and reserve troops financially, just as Kipling had exhorted the nation to do, and to provide the soldiers with small comforts.

The Absent-minded
 Beggar

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 it's 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!

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’ment 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!

Rudyard Kipling, 1899.

Click here to read more about the story behind 'The Absent-minded Beggar'.