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

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?