Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor

Album: Little Games (1967)
Play Video
  • Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor,
    Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief,
    Doctor, baker, fine shoe-maker,
    Wise man, madman, taxman, please,
    How can I know just what to be?
    Please stop and give advice to me.

    Tell me,
    Tell me,
    How many people do I help,
    Just by sitting on the shelf,
    Tell me,
    Tell me,
    I don't want a trade at all,
    (It's for two?) living off the road.

    Oh,
    Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor,
    Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief,
    Doctor, baker, fine shoe-maker,
    Wise man, madman, taxman, please.

    Who's gonna tell me what to do?
    Then they will say that I am true.
    Maybe,
    Maybe,
    Perhaps I'll come to a great success,
    Or possible a dreadful mess.

    Maybe,
    Maybe,
    (Having buys it's?) fortune, fame,
    Living's just a little game.

    Woooo-aaah,
    Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor,
    Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief,
    Doctor, baker, fine shoe-maker,
    Wise man, madman, taxman, please.

    How can I know just what to be,
    Please stop and give advice to me,
    Tell me,
    Tell me,

    How many people do I help,
    Just by sitting on a shelf,
    Tell me,
    Tell me,

    I don't want a trade at all,
    (It's for two?) living off the road

    Oh,
    Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor,
    Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief,
    Doctor, baker, fine shoe-maker,
    Wise man, madman, taxman, please.

    Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor Writer/s: JIM MCCARTY, JIMMY PAGE
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Flying Kiwi from HereInteresting history to that ditty. The original ended at "thief", but of course even centuries ago there were numerous versions. As a young child it was often read to us and i knew "who" I wanted to be. The rich man? Mum would say - No way.
    The traveling Tinker.
    The Yardbirds did an interesting song using the poem in 1967
    https://bit.ly/43fDqcs
  • Dierk from Hamburg, GermanyNo, Willie, it is not. If at all it would be the other way round, since le Carré's novel was published only in 1974, seven years after Page et al. wrote their song. Actually those lines - Tinker, tailor ... up to just before the 'please' reference an old English nursery rhyme.
  • Willie from Scottsdale, AzThe title is a rather obvious take-off of the John LeCarre novel "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?