The war was dragging on a bit
They needed lots more men
They offered me a bonus
If I volunteered again.
Well, with the cost of livin’
And my business on the skids
That money made a dif’rence
To my honey and the kids
I was happy with the deal we made
And I was proud to serve
I knew what I was doing
In the Guard and the Reserve
I kissed the wife and kiddies
And I packed off for Iraq
That bonus got them through it
Now they want that money back?
It seems I wasn’t qualified
Or so some lawyer thinks
Or they can’t find the paperwork
My God, the whole thing stinks
The war I saw was horrible
Grown men shedding tears
You can have ten thousand
If you give me back those years
Well, I’m not the kind to argue
And I’m not the kind to beg
But they can have their bonus
When they give me back my leg
And Tommy right beside me
You can go and ask his wife
She’ll give you twice his bonus
If you give her back his life
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.
(from “Tommy” by Rudyard Kipling)
