A filmic rendition of the classic poem. Less a stilted, formal recital, and more of a conversation between British soldiers at their ease; as Kipling wrote it.
Thanks. We enjoyed making this. There was a time when many people could recite poems for family gatherings. Maybe, in an odd way, the internet might be bringing some of that back.
Marvelous. I think a grizzled sergeant-major reciting "The 'eathen" or "The Young British Soldier" to a rank of "arf-made recruities" would be a treat.
Wonderful phrasing in this recitation of the poem of Gunga Din. You expressed it as a story, with the right voicings, so that in places you can tell who is saying what instead of just reading (as on paper) it in my own poet-narrative voice. My grandfather, born early 1900's, would have loved this interpretive reading. It was one of his favorite poems.
This took my breath away. I've always loved this greatly misunderstood poem, and most will always fail to understand it, one, because they aren't familiar with the terminology, and two, because they don't want to. This, though, is exactly how I imagine Kipling would have wanted it, better than I could have imagined it. I wish my father could have seen this. He would truly have enjoyed it. Thanks for making this.
Recently saw a friend riding a motorcycle in 25 degree weather and told him he was "a better man than I Gunga Din." I hadn't thought of that classic poem in years. Had to search it out and read it again and then listen and watch it performed. This is priceless.
Thank you very much. My late Dad used to love this poem and loved reciting the last few lines. I share his love for it too. Your recitation stirred a deep emotional feeling within me. Thank you so much.
That is how you put poetry into perspective. I wish more people would put poetry into context like that. Too many people have the formal, almost stuck up recitals. Absolutely no feeling. This, I liked.
love this . i miss the days when people would memorise and recite them at get togethers etc my grandfather knew lots if them . i uses to love hearing in him in action .
I'm actually not ashamed to admit that your reading nearly brought me to tears. That was extremely well read, you brought mere words on paper to life. Thank you very much for posting this it was fantastic.
Thanks! I appreciate your thoughts. And your old pal, by the way, is a man worthy of tremendous respect. A Burma Star veteran, the real thing! And I also enjoyed his recital very much.
This is brilliant and reviews by others questioning the pronunciation of a word or two or were the actors in the scene with him young enough misses the entire point. The point is this is a masterpiece for the masses. This is brilliant for everyone.
I'm re-reading PG Wodehouse and, for some reason, the 'Gunga Din' quote came into my head. I found this in a Google search and am blown away. Fantastic stuff from a bygone era. (Not sure that people will be reinterpreting 'Batman 4' with the same emotional vigour).
I could think of a number of poems which could be much improved by this kind of treatment, but this would remain at the top of the list. I'm former Infantry. You give a nineteen year old kid a sack of Band Aids and he turns into Jesus. There is nothing holier than tending the wounded under fire. I've also been bricky-dry. We'll meet on the High Ground and never again be thirsty.
I am not British but Italian, however, I shall never forget when I saw the great classic "Gunga Din" in 1969 (I was 10 years old then) and I remember how I cried when the image of Gunga Din appeared at the end, dressed as a sepoy saluting very smartly with a big grin on his face. This rendition is excellent; however, the sound quality is very poor.
Very well done. On a submarine, sometimes you would give a fortune for 15 minutes sleep. In life, we take out our fear, anger, stress, etc on people around us only to find....they are much better humans than we are. I''ll see you later, Gunga Din!
Thanks. In America, I never before heard Din pronounced as Dean, but that sounds so right compared to Dinn. I see in the poem that Kipling rhymed "Din" with "been" (pronounced "bean") and "green." "Dean" has nobler associations too than "Dinn" (noise).
+Mark Caplan Mark. The actual pronunciation is as in Dhin as in when you say Thump and move the T to a D and replace ump with an in. It's 'Dhin' matey. As for Panee Lao, Lao is Law-O
I'll be reciting this for my church's young men's talent show. I'm 73. I've been working on it for a couple of days, and really enjoyed this recitation! Does anyone know what the phrases in the 1st stanza mean? Or even what language they are?
Thank you so so much for this video I really enjoyed it .. My old pal in the pic tried to recite it but his memory was failing but he also did a good job.....this version had me just so gripped it was quite simply FANTASTIC ..thank you !
That was beautiful I'm actually crying now. This is probably very politically incorrect from an old royal marine and India hand but it's true there was is and never will be a braver and stouter fellow than a low caste hindi that has taken your salt
I think it's excellent the way you blend the "chorus" lines into the verses. I cannot recite complete versions of several of RK's poems because I can't deal with a "chorus" bit which, seems to me, can only be delivered through singing or a complete change of voice. I've heard them "read straight through" and it sounds awful; it completely kills the simple, natural of the story telling in the verses. Yours is inspirational!
Terribly bad form of me, I know, especially when you chaps have gone to the trouble to put on such a dashed good show and all. But although I know that Kipling rendered it as _'Lao'_ _I've only ever heard it pronounced 'JAO'_ ( _'j-ow'_ or _'jau'_ ) by both Hindustani's AND the 'old sweats'._ Although the variation in regional dialects (in both speaker and subsequent writer) would be perfectly sufficient to explain such small differences. In George MacDonald Frazier's autobiographical book _'Quartered safe out 'ere'_ (A good read incidentally, and named, as you no doubt know, _after the first lines of this very poem._ ) Frazier renders the Hindi/Urdu words quite differently to Kipling. But then, _transliteration is a notoriously fickle art,_ isn't it ?
Yes, p'raps to see enlisted men this time- a pair of "seasoned" blokes on night watch, telling a fresh face all about a bugger called 'Fuzzy-Wuzzy'... yeah?
Brother Kipling was a Mason, and his Masonic virtue shows in Gunga Din when he says "You're a better man than I, Gunga Din." Gunga Din, whom he would meet upon the level and part upon the square, and gladly call him "Brother", in his mother lodge, out there.
![[UNCUT] ชาวบ้านถาม “นายกอุ๊งอิ๊งค์” ประชาชนมีกิน มีใช้ กี่โมง? I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ I 16 ส.ค. 67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tKZvOzLIJJc/mqdefault.jpg)
This was truly beautiful - a wonderful poem ; my only criticism is This : Gunga Din is Definitely in Heaven above ! ! !
Thanks. We enjoyed making this. There was a time when many people could recite poems for family gatherings. Maybe, in an odd way, the internet might be bringing some of that back.
are you aware of Jim Croce's musical version?
Any soldier understands this very well .
Marvelous. I think a grizzled sergeant-major reciting "The 'eathen" or "The Young British Soldier" to a rank of "arf-made recruities" would be a treat.
The best recital ever of this timeless work. Thank you.
Wonderful phrasing in this recitation of the poem of Gunga Din. You expressed it as a story, with the right voicings, so that in places you can tell who is saying what instead of just reading (as on paper) it in my own poet-narrative voice. My grandfather, born early 1900's, would have loved this interpretive reading. It was one of his favorite poems.
By far the best rendition of this poem I have heard. Being ex military I also enjoyed the setting you used to present it. Outstanding, Thank you.
This took my breath away. I've always loved this greatly misunderstood poem, and most will always fail to understand it, one, because they aren't familiar with the terminology, and two, because they don't want to. This, though, is exactly how I imagine Kipling would have wanted it, better than I could have imagined it. I wish my father could have seen this. He would truly have enjoyed it. Thanks for making this.
Thank you. It was an honor to interpret one of the great characters in English poetry.
Recently saw a friend riding a motorcycle in 25 degree weather and told him he was "a better man than I Gunga Din." I hadn't thought of that classic poem in years. Had to search it out and read it again and then listen and watch it performed. This is priceless.
Thank you very much. My late Dad used to love this poem and loved reciting the last few lines. I share his love for it too.
Your recitation stirred a deep emotional feeling within me. Thank you so much.
My dad used to recite parts of this. Love this rendition! Regards from Australia.
That is how you put poetry into perspective. I wish more people would put poetry into context like that. Too many people have the formal, almost stuck up recitals. Absolutely no feeling. This, I liked.
love this . i miss the days when people would memorise and recite them at get togethers etc my grandfather knew lots if them . i uses to love hearing in him in action .
I'm actually not ashamed to admit that your reading nearly brought me to tears. That was extremely well read, you brought mere words on paper to life. Thank you very much for posting this it was fantastic.
Spectacular!! Very inspiring rendition of Kipling's GUNGA DIN
I use to hear my father sing the song whilst he was cooking. He told me the story. Ive never forgotten Gunga Din 🙏
Thanks! I appreciate your thoughts. And your old pal, by the way, is a man worthy of tremendous respect. A Burma Star veteran, the real thing! And I also enjoyed his recital very much.
Nicely done. The old officer should have been addressing two young lads as opposed to two blokes who looked like they'd served at Balaclava.
That was awesome! You guys really brought the poem to life!
This is brilliant and reviews by others questioning the pronunciation of a word or two or were the actors in the scene with him young enough misses the entire point. The point is this is a masterpiece for the masses. This is brilliant for everyone.
Fact is, the age of the fellow officers shows their ability to appreciate the tale. He reminds me of Sir Samuel Vimes, Cmdr, AMCW.
thank you very much. It has been a favorite poem of mine all my life.
Masterful! Brings the piece to true perspective.
Oh that was GOOD!
At the very end, it just happened that I was holding a glass of Madeira wine. I raised it in a toast to Gunga Din!
Had only a half-pint of ale for that purpose, myself.
The bravest damned bastard of us all Gunga Din!
I'm re-reading PG Wodehouse and, for some reason, the 'Gunga Din' quote came into my head. I found this in a Google search and am blown away. Fantastic stuff from a bygone era. (Not sure that people will be reinterpreting 'Batman 4' with the same emotional vigour).
Holy cow! Great job! I love this poem, and ive heard it a hundred times, but this is the best rendition by far.
Thank you! We tried to give it the full respect it deserves.
Best rendition I've ever heard. Inspiring. I hope you've seen Jim Croce's version where he puts the poem to music. Thank you.
I could think of a number of poems which could be much improved by this kind of treatment, but this would remain at the top of the list.
I'm former Infantry. You give a nineteen year old kid a sack of Band Aids and he turns into Jesus. There is nothing holier than tending the wounded under fire.
I've also been bricky-dry.
We'll meet on the High Ground and never again be thirsty.
if this does not break your heart ..... no hope for you .
The way it was, and how they were
I am not British but Italian, however, I shall never forget when I saw the great classic "Gunga Din" in 1969 (I was 10 years old then) and I remember how I cried when the image of Gunga Din appeared at the end, dressed as a sepoy saluting very smartly with a big grin on his face. This rendition is excellent; however, the sound quality is very poor.
a wonderful rendition--it shows at least one person's transition from a racist to one who know learns that all men can be heroic regardless of race
David Brewer youtube
Thanks! I hope to do another poem in the spring.
@Polyphemus
...A belated "thank you!" I love the great poems as recital pieces, and hope to learn more.
One of my prefered Kipling's poems....brilliant recite!
Very well done. On a submarine, sometimes you would give a fortune for 15 minutes sleep. In life, we take out our fear, anger, stress, etc on people around us only to find....they are much better humans than we are. I''ll see you later, Gunga Din!
Bloody marvellous.
Thanks. In America, I never before heard Din pronounced as Dean, but that sounds so right compared to Dinn. I see in the poem that Kipling rhymed "Din" with "been" (pronounced "bean") and "green." "Dean" has nobler associations too than "Dinn" (noise).
+Mark Caplan Mark. The actual pronunciation is as in Dhin as in when you say Thump and move the T to a D and replace ump with an in. It's 'Dhin' matey. As for Panee Lao, Lao is Law-O
MY GRANDDAD was a Veteran of the BOAR WAR. He was a Signaler in the KRR. { King's Royal Rifles }.
I'll be reciting this for my church's young men's talent show. I'm 73. I've been working on it for a couple of days, and really enjoyed this recitation! Does anyone know what the phrases in the 1st stanza mean? Or even what language they are?
This is absolutely brilliant.
Thank you so so much for this video I really enjoyed it .. My old pal in the pic tried to recite it but his memory was failing but he also did a good job.....this version had me just so gripped it was quite simply FANTASTIC ..thank you !
@cbrusharmy
...Thanks! I love the great poems as recital pieces. I hope to learn more.
A brilliant effort!
Well done, sir! VERY well done!
THIS IS CLASS.
My favorite poem ever!
...and I`ll get a swig in Hell from Gunga Din.
Excellent reading!
Man, I enjoyed that!
Wow. Brilliant. Thank you!
That was beautiful I'm actually crying now. This is probably very politically incorrect from an old royal marine and India hand but it's true there was is and never will be a braver and stouter fellow than a low caste hindi that has taken your salt
Great job. Very moving but I fear the sound might have detected a bit.
Beautiful.
Bravo!
Well done. Thank you.
Impressive!
Wonderfully done!
Thanks to both of you!
Best reading of this great piece that I've ever heard spoken.
Thank you for posting.
Wonderful!!
I think it's excellent the way you blend the "chorus" lines into the verses. I cannot recite complete versions of several of RK's poems because I can't deal with a "chorus" bit which, seems to me, can only be delivered through singing or a complete change of voice. I've heard them "read straight through" and it sounds awful; it completely kills the simple, natural of the story telling in the verses. Yours is inspirational!
Wow. Actually recorded on 1881 equipment.
Terribly bad form of me, I know, especially when you chaps have gone to the trouble to put on such a dashed good show and all.
But although I know that Kipling rendered it as _'Lao'_ _I've only ever heard it pronounced 'JAO'_ ( _'j-ow'_ or _'jau'_ ) by both Hindustani's AND the 'old sweats'._
Although the variation in regional dialects (in both speaker and subsequent writer) would be perfectly sufficient to explain such small differences.
In George MacDonald Frazier's autobiographical book _'Quartered safe out 'ere'_ (A good read incidentally, and named, as you no doubt know, _after the first lines of this very poem._ ) Frazier renders the Hindi/Urdu words quite differently to Kipling.
But then, _transliteration is a notoriously fickle art,_ isn't it ?
Very well done.
Uma pena, não ter uma correção adequada dessa grande poema, para meu idioma nativo.
Ah, soldiering.
Seconded. More!
Yes, p'raps to see enlisted men this time- a pair of "seasoned" blokes on night watch, telling a fresh face all about a bugger called 'Fuzzy-Wuzzy'... yeah?
Outstanding!
Great .... Britain needs dins !!!
A little old for a combat regiment major.... must have been a naughty boy
Brother Kipling was a Mason, and his Masonic virtue shows in Gunga Din when he says "You're a better man than I, Gunga Din."
Gunga Din, whom he would meet upon the level and part upon the square, and gladly call him "Brother", in his mother lodge, out there.
An ancient order dedicated to the brotherhood of man under the all seeing eye of God.
🙏🏽🙏🏽💙♥️🇲🇽♦️
Ccc