Hullo there! Little Tommy Atkins

AKA Tommy Atkins
First Published 1913
Writer/composer Lester Barrett and Herman Darewski Roud RN

Music Hall Performers Harry Cove
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Wheat, Maurice; England, Derbyshire; 1970

Transcribed from Jack Charman recording on YouTube

There's a chap named Tommy Atkins, and his praises we will sing 
Tommy! Our pride and our joy!
We have always found him loyal to his country and his king. 
Tommy! Our brave soldier boy!
When home from war returning, for wives and sweethearts yearning
In hearty welcome lusty voices ring, hear how they sing!

Hullo there, little Tommy Atkins! Hullo there, little soldier man
Always cool and steady, always brave and ready
Hullo there, little Tommy Atkins, defeat you, no one can
Mid the rattle of the battle or at home sweet home, 
You are a soldier and a man!

There's a chap named Tommy Atkins, and he loves the ladies fair
Tommy! Makes love to the lot!
With his captivating manner and his fascinating air
Tommy! Is awfully hot!
Just see him out parading, the ladies' hearts invading
The girls all say, while marching with the band "Don't they look grand!"

There's a chap named Tommy Atkins, he's a terror to the world
Tommy! All Britons adore!
For the foe he's always ready and with Union Jack unfurled
Tommy! Can fight as of yore! 
He's proud of what he fought for, a fight he never sought for,
And that's why British subjects all proclaim our hero's fame

One of a number of Music Hall songs about Tommy Atkins, this one from the beginning of World War I, a period when the halls played a huge role in promoting enlistment, arguably encouraging young men to sign up to be slaughtered. This was the period of “war fever” when the vast majority of political leaders, trades unions, intellectuals and Music Hall stars enthusiastically backed the war. It didn’t last long – by 1915 focus of Music Hall songs shifted as the confidence that the war would be “over by Christmas” faded. If you want to find out more about popular song in this period check out The show must go on! by John Mullin.

Other songs featuring Tommy Atkins are discussed discussed here

The song was remembered in 1970 when Maurice Wheat sang it to collector Ruairidh Greig, who has very kindly provided this copy of the recording:

Maurice Wheat sings Hullo there! Little Tommy Atkins in Holmesfield, Derbyshire, 11 Nov 1970

A contemporary recording by Jack Charman:

Sources:

  • VWML entry
  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics: Transcribed from Edison Blue recording on YouTube
  • The show must go on! by John Mullin. (2015)