Danny Deever

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936)

“WHAT are the bugles blowin’ for?” said Files-on-Parade.

“To turn you out, to turn you out,” the Color-Sergeant said.

“What makes you look so white, so white?” said Files-on-Parade.

“I ’m dreadin’ what I ’ve got to watch,” the Color-Sergeant said.

For they ’re hangin’ Danny Deever, you can hear the Dead March play,

The regiment ’s in ’ollow square—they ’re hangin’ him to-day;

They ’ve taken of his buttons off an’ cut his stripes away,

An’ they ’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.

“What makes the rear-rank breathe so ’ard?” said Files-on-Parade.

“It ’s bitter cold, it ’s bitter cold,” the Color-Sergeant said.

“What makes that front-rank man fall down?” says Files-on-Parade.

“A touch o’ sun, a touch o’ sun,” the Color-Sergeant said.

They are hangin’ Danny Deever, they are marchin’ of ’im round,

They ’ave ’alted Danny Deever by ’is coffin on the ground;

An’ ’e ’ll swing in ’arf a minute for a sneakin’ shootin’ hound—

O they ’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’!

“’Is cot was right-’and cot to mine,” said Files-on-Parade.

“’E ’s sleepin’ out an’ far to-night,” the Color-Sergeant said.

“I ’ve drunk ’is beer a score o’ times,” said Files-on-Parade.

“’E ’s drinkin’ bitter beer alone,” the Color-Sergeant said.

They are hangin’ Danny Deever, you must mark ’im to ’is place,

For ’e shot a comrade sleepin’—you must look ’im in the face;

Nine ’undred of ’is county an’ the regiment’s disgrace,

While they ’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.

“What ’s that so black agin the sun?” said Files-on-Parade.

“It ’s Danny fightin’ ’ard for life,” the Color-Sergeant said.

“What ’s that that whimpers over’ead?” said Files-on-Parade.

“It ’s Danny’s soul that ’s passin’ now,” the Color-Sergeant said.

For they ’re done with Danny Deever, you can ’ear the quickstep play,

The regiment ’s in column, an’ they ’re marchin’ us away;

Ho! the young recruits are shakin’, an’ they ’ll want their beer to-day,

After hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.