After so many years of military rule the last elections here represented yet another missed opportunity. Burma's rulers have demonstrated again and again how they will continue to put their own interests ahead of the majority.
Elections there fail every objective criteria of being free, fair and inclusive. The list of flaws is long, but the most obvious one is surely that 25% of the members of the new parliament must be military nominees. In addition the regime has locked up thousands of its political opponents, including of course Aung San Suu Kyi, and used its election laws to effectively prevent her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), from standing.
Rudyard Kipling's ballad looks back to a time of war but it has a huge soul. The familiar musical setting perhaps masks the subtleties of character, its immeadiacy and deep longing. Here's a stab anyway - still falling short I'm sure of the great riches in the piece. Sincerely, if you know it I hope you enjoy - if you don't know it in a way I envy you...
Notes: Hathi is the Hindi word for "elephant." Thebaw was the last king of Burma, deposed by the forces of the British Empire in 1885.Of course in Moulmein the sun comes up over the hills of western Thailand; the "Bay" is actually the Gulf of Martaban — to the west. Anyway Kipling´s vivid and expressive poem survives these inconsistencies.
By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' lazy at the sea,
There's a Burma girl a-settin', and I know she thinks o' me;
For the wind is in the palm-trees, and the Temple-bells they say:
"Come you back, you British soldier; come you back to Mandalay!" Come you back to Mandalay, Where the old Flotilla lay: Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay? On the road to Mandalay, Where the flyin' fishes play, An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
'Er petticoat was yaller an' 'er little cap was green,
An' 'er name was Supi-yaw-lat --- jes' the same as Theebaw's Queen,
An' I seed her first a-smokin' of a whackin' white cheroot,
An' a-wastin' Christian kisses on an 'eathen idol's foot: Bloomin' idol made o' mud --- Wot they called the Great Gawd Budd --- Plucky lot she cared for idols when I kissed 'er where she stud! On the road to Mandalay, Where the flyin' fishes play, An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
When the mist was on the rice-fields an' the sun was droppin' slow,
She'd git 'er little banjo and she'd sing "Kulla-lo-lo!"
With 'er arm upon my shoulder an' 'er cheek agin my cheek
We useter watch the steamers an' the hathis pilin' teak. Elephants a-pilin' teak In the sludgy, squdgy creek, Where the silence 'ung that 'eavy you was 'arf afraid to speak! On the road to Mandalay, Where the flyin' fishes play, An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
But that's all above be'ind me --- long ago an' fur away,
An' there ain't no buses runnin' from the Bank to Mandalay;
An' I'm learnin' 'ere in London what the ten-year soldier tells:
"If you've 'eard the East a-callin', you won't never 'eed naught else." No! You won't 'eed nothin' else But them spicy garlic smells, An' the sunshine an' the palm-trees an' the tinkly Temple-bells; On the road to Mandalay, Where the flyin' fishes play, An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
I am sick o' wastin' leather on these gritty pavin'-stones,
An' the blasted English drizzle wakes the fever in my bones;
Tho' I walks with fifty 'ousemaids outer Chelsea to the Strand,
An' they talks a lot o' lovin', but what do they understand? Beefy face an' grubby 'and --- Law! Wot do they understand? I've a neater, sweeter maiden in a cleaner, greener land! On the road to Mandalay, Where the flyin' fishes play, An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
Ship me somewhere's east of Suez, where the best is like the worst,
Where there aren't no Ten Commandments an' a man can raise a thirst;
For the Temple-bells are callin', an' it's there that I would be ---
By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' lazy at the sea; On the road to Mandalay, Where the old Flotilla lay, With our sick beneath the awnings when we went to Mandalay! On the road to Mandalay, Where the flyin' fishes play, An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
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Robbie Williams - The Road To Mandalay - Live Manchesterby ZidMcloud123,294 views
why is a Chinese song playing at the beginning when Mandalay is in Burma
yarzharl 1 month ago
@yarzharl Artistic licence!
Caspar33 1 month ago
What is the full name of the "SIR" ?
Thank You ! : Zoltán,from Hungary
csuti1957 5 months ago
@csuti1957 You mean Kipling himself? He was never knighted though In 1907 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Full name Joseph Rudyard Kipling: 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936, an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his 'celebration' (this is contentious) of British imperialism and for his tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and stories for children. He was also a first rate short story writer and novelist. Fred Proud.
Caspar33 5 months ago
@Caspar33 Thank you Caspar33,I do,who is my favorite WRITER Kipling,who writed the KIM end etc.
Once more ! I dont no what is the name of the old man Sir.... ? who speak the Road to Mandalay poem ?
csuti1957 5 months ago
@csuti1957 He does not have a name.And it is obvious from his use of English that he is just an ordiinary soldier. Unless you mean the speaker or performer of the piece in this video it is me myself. Can it be that this is what you are asking?
Caspar33 5 months ago