Rudyard Kipling
I’m ‘ere in a ticky ulster an’ a broken billycock ‘at,
A-layin’ on to the sergeant I don’t know a gun from a bat;
My shirt’s doin’ duty for jacket, my sock’s stickin’ out o’ my boots,
An’ I’m learnin’ the damned old goose-step along o’ the new recruits!
Back to the Army again, sergeant,
Back to the Army again.
Don’t look so ‘ard, for I ‘aven’t no card,
I’m back to the Army again!
I done my six years’ service. ‘Er Majesty sez: “Good-day —
You’ll please to come when you’re rung for, an’ ‘ere’s your ‘ole back-pay;
An’ fourpence a day for baccy — an’ bloomin’ gen’rous, too;
An’ now you can make your fortune — the same as your orf’cers do.”
Back to the Army again, sergeant,
Back to the Army again;
‘Ow did I learn to do right-about turn?
I’m back to the Army again!
A man o’ four-an’-twenty that ‘asn’t learned of a trade —
Beside “Reserve” agin’ him — ‘e’d better be never made.
I tried my luck for a quarter, an’ that was enough for me,
An’ I thought of ‘Er Majesty’s barricks, an’ I thought I’d go an’ see.
Back to the Army again, sergeant,
Back to the Army again;
‘Tisn’t my fault if I dress when I ‘alt —
I’m back to the Army again!
The sergeant arst no questions, but ‘e winked the other eye,
‘E sez to me, “‘Shun!” an’ I shunted, the same as in days gone by;
For ‘e saw the set o’ my shoulders, an’ I couldn’t ‘elp ‘oldin’ straight
When me an’ the other rookies come under the barrick-gate.
Back to the Army again, sergeant,
Back to the Army again;
‘Oo would ha’ thought I could carry an’ port?
I’m back to the Army again!
I took my bath, an’ I wallered — for, Gawd, I needed it so!
I smelt the smell o’ the barricks, I ‘eard the bugles go.
I ‘eard the feet on the gravel — the feet o’ the men what drill —
An’ I sez to my flutterin’ ‘eart-strings, I sez to ’em, “Peace, be still!”
Back to the Army again, sergeant,
Back to the Army again;
‘Oo said I knew when the ~Jumner~ was due?
I’m back to the Army again!
I carried my slops to the tailor; I sez to ‘im, “None o’ your lip!
You tight ’em over the shoulders, an’ loose ’em over the ‘ip,
For the set o’ the tunic’s ‘orrid.” An’ ‘e sez to me, “Strike me dead,
But I thought you was used to the business!” an’ so ‘e done what I said.
Back to the Army again, sergeant,
Back to the Army again.
Rather too free with my fancies? Wot — me?
I’m back to the Army again!
Next week I’ll ‘ave ’em fitted; I’ll buy me a swagger-cane;
They’ll let me free o’ the barricks to walk on the Hoe again
In the name o’ William Parsons, that used to be Edward Clay,
An’ — any pore beggar that wants it can draw my fourpence a day!
Back to the Army again, sergeant,
Back to the Army again:
Out o’ the cold an’ the rain, sergeant,
Out o’ the cold an’ the rain.
‘Oo’s there?
A man that’s too good to be lost you,
A man that is ‘andled an’ made —
A man that will pay what ‘e cost you
In learnin’ the others their trade — parade!
You’re droppin’ the pick o’ the Army
Because you don’t ‘elp ’em remain,
But drives ’em to cheat to get out o’ the street
An’ back to the Army again!
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem presents a humorous yet somewhat bittersweet portrayal of a soldier’s return to military life after having been discharged. Through the voice of a soldier who has served his time and is now rejoining the Army, the poem explores themes of duty, disillusionment, and the cyclical nature of military service. It mixes humor with a touch of regret and nostalgia, as the protagonist returns to the Army not because he wants to, but because life outside the barracks hasn’t worked out as he hoped.
From the opening lines, the poem sets a self-deprecating tone as the soldier describes his ragged appearance and confusion about military procedure: “I’m ‘ere in a ticky ulster an’ a broken billycock ‘at,” he says, highlighting his shabby state. His reference to not knowing “a gun from a bat” makes it clear that he’s out of practice, even though he’s just re-entered the ranks. His shirt “doin’ duty for jacket” and his sock “stickin’ out o’ my boots” reinforce the image of someone who is out of place, ill-prepared, and perhaps even a little ashamed. Yet, there’s a certain wry acceptance in his words. He may not be in peak shape or uniform, but he’s willing to “learn the damned old goose-step” again, a symbol of the soldier’s readiness to conform and obey despite everything.
The refrain “Back to the Army again, sergeant” repeats throughout, giving the poem a rhythmic, almost chant-like quality, underscoring the inevitability of the soldier’s return. The repetition serves both as a lament and an ironic acceptance of his fate. The soldier may be returning reluctantly, but there is something deeply ingrained in him that pulls him back to the military life, as if he’s resigned to his lot. The light, casual tone of the refrain (“Don’t look so ‘ard, for I ‘aven’t no card”) highlights the soldier’s deflection of any judgment—he’s back because he has no better options, not because he’s particularly eager to serve again.
The soldier’s dismissal of civilian life is stark in the second stanza: after six years of service, the army releases him with back pay and a few meager allowances—“fourpence a day for baccy.” His efforts to “make [his] fortune” in civilian life have clearly failed, so he turns back to the Army, the only institution that he knows well and in which he finds some measure of stability, however grim. The line, “the same as your orf’cers do,” sarcastically points to the disparity between officers and enlisted men, who are expected to endure hardship while officers enjoy privileges and pay. This sentiment touches on a theme that runs through many military poems: the class divide within the armed forces and the unfairness of a system that exploits those who are lowest in rank.
By the third stanza, we see how the soldier falls back into the rhythm of Army life: “The sergeant arst no questions, but ‘e winked the other eye.” The sergeant’s easy acceptance of the soldier’s return suggests a familiarity and perhaps a tacit understanding between them. The soldier may be out of shape and a bit unruly, but he still knows how to move with the other recruits. The line “‘Shun! an’ I shunted, the same as in days gone by” suggests that, despite his years away, he’s still got the instinct to obey orders, even if he’s not in his best form.
The poem also delves into the soldier’s personal reflection on returning to the barracks. He hears “the bugles go,” the sound of his comrades marching, and it stirs something in him: “I sez to my flutterin’ ‘eart-strings, I sez to ‘em, ‘Peace, be still!’” Here, the soldier’s emotions are caught between the harshness of military life and the pull of nostalgia. The repetition of “Back to the Army again” in each stanza reinforces his resignation to the routine, as though it’s the only place he truly belongs, despite the challenges it brings.
There is also humor in the descriptions of the soldier’s return to proper uniform and military procedure. When he’s fitted for his new slops, he gives the tailor advice on how to make the tunic fit properly, suggesting that he has, in fact, retained some knowledge of Army life, even if he initially seems out of practice. The soldier’s instructions are delivered with authority, as if he is still a seasoned veteran, even though he’s only just back on active duty. This comical reversal—where the soldier, though a bit worse for wear, still manages to maintain a sense of control over his appearance—is a moment of self-assurance amidst the confusion.
The poem concludes with a somewhat ironic twist. The soldier plans to buy himself a swagger-cane and dreams of once again walking with a sense of pride on the “Hoe” (a public promenade). He talks about “William Parsons” who “used to be Edward Clay,” hinting at the false identity he might adopt to escape his past or to embellish his current self. In this closing scene, the soldier is once again caught between the civilian world and the military, trying to reconcile the life he once led with the one he’s returning to.
The final lines, where the soldier reflects on the cycle of recruitment and discharge, introduce a note of social commentary. He mentions how “you’re droppin’ the pick o’ the Army / Because you don’t ‘elp ‘em remain,” implying that those who fall out of the system—those who can’t keep up or don’t fit the mold—are discarded. Yet, he points out the hypocrisy of the system that turns a blind eye to the very people it is supposed to support. The soldier’s return to the Army symbolizes the ways in which society, especially the lower ranks of society, are trapped in cycles of service and survival.
In conclusion, this poem captures the humor, absurdity, and ultimately, the resignation of a soldier who has been released from military service only to find himself returning to it once more. It highlights the cyclical nature of military life, the soldier’s deep familiarity with the institution, and the paradox of returning to a place of hardship and routine out of necessity. The repetition of the refrain gives the poem a sense of inevitability, while the soldier’s humorous observations and ironic detachment suggest a man who has learned to accept the absurdity of his situation.