It’s of a gentleman soldier, as a sentry he did stand, He saluted a fair maid with a waving of his hand - So boldly then he kissed her and he passed it off as a joke - Then he drilled her into the sentry box, wrapped up in a soldier's cloak!
Chorus: And the drums they go with a ra-ta-tap And the fifes they loudly play Saying fare thee well Molly me dear, I must be going away
All night they tossed and tumbled ‘til daylight did appear. The soldier rose, put on his clothes, saying, "Fare thee well my dear! For the drums they are a-beating and the fifes they loudly play - If it weren't for that, Molly, me dear, then alone with you I'd stay!"
Chorus
"Oh, come you gentleman soldier, won't you marry me?" "Oh no, me dearest Molly, such thing can never be - For I've a wife already and children I have three! Two wives are allowed in the army but one's too much for me!"