Dinky Die

DESCRIPTION: A bloody soldier returned from France is berated by a lance corporal from headquarters for appearing in public in a disheveled uniform. The soldier is awarded a medal for kicking the corporal in the ass.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1965 (Lahey, "Australian Favorite Ballads," according to Cleveland-NZ-GreatNewZealandSongbook)
KEYWORDS: army soldier abuse
FOUND IN: Australia Britain(England) US New Zealand
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Cray-EroticMuse, pp. 403-404, "Dinky Die" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cleveland-NZ-GreatNewZealandSongbook, pp. 112-113, "The Lousy Lance Corporal" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ward-PenguinBookOfAustralianBallads, pp. 240-241, "The Digger's London Leave" (1 text)
Arthur-WhenThisBloodyWarIsOver, pp. 107-108, "The Digger's Song" (1 text, tune [incorrectly] referenced)

Roud #10189
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Vilikens and his Dinah (William and Dinah) [Laws M31A/B]" (tune & meter) and references there
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Dinki-Di
NOTES [102 words]: Davey/Seal, p. 88, say this song originated in World War I, and derived from another song, "Horseferry Road." In World War II, it acquired a chorus, "Dinki-di, Dinky-di, I am a digger and I won't tell a lie." How much of this history applies to the whole song, and how much is specific to the Australian version, is not clear to me.
NewZealandDictionary, p. 75, offers this for "dinky-di":
1. adverb. Also dinky-die, and elaborated to dinky die do. Truly, certainly. 1987 Norgrove Shoestring Sailors 'This is straight up, Blue?' 'Absolutely dinky-die!'
2. noun. The diamond in the game of 'Crown and Anchor'. - RBW
Bibliography Last updated in version 6.6
File: EM403

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