The Military March of Rudyard Kipling

Описание: Русская версия этой песни тут:    • Военный марш Редьярда Киплинга  .

In full accordance with its name, Great Britain has given humanity many great Britons. Rudyard Kipling, the steadfast tin soldier of the Empire, marched through the world to the military beat of Her Majesty's regiments and left us a legacy of poems, stories, and tales about it. He carried with him a belief in a common cause, conviction in his calling, principledness, courage, and self-sacrifice. As a secretary of Masonic lodges, he firmly believed in the ideals of Freemasonry—friendship, mutual aid, solidarity, and support. He lived through a difficult childhood without a true friend to rely on, and the longing for genuine friendship stayed with him for life.

Kipling's renowned poem, "The Thousandth Man," explores the extraordinary nature of genuine friendship and the rarity of finding a true friend. Be that as it may, wars are once again raging across the world as they did more than a century ago, and true friendship is valued no less than before. The differences lie mainly in technology—if not long ago people were primarily killed by bullets and shells, today drones and aerial bombs do the job. And while music was once composed exclusively by composers, now neural networks are capable of doing this as well. Therefore, a military march composed by artificial intelligence based on verses from a long-gone singer of male friendship is just as relevant today as it was then.

The Thousandth Man

One man in a thousand, Solomon says.
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine depend
On what the world sees in you,
But the Thousandth Man will stand your friend
With the whole round world agin you.

'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for 'ee.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go
By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him,
The rest of the world don't matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water.

You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings,
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call
For silver and gold in their dealings;
But the Thousandth Man he's worth 'em all
Because you can show him your feelings.

His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,
In season or out of season.
Stand up and back it in all men's sight
With that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide
The shame or mocking or laughter,
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side
To the gallows-foot - and after!

1899