Its of a gentleman soldier As sentry he did stand He saluted a fair maiden By a waiving of his hand So then he boldly kissed her And he passed it off as a joke He drilled her up in the sentry box Wrapped up in a soldiers cloke
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap And the fifes they loudly play Fare you well polly my dear I must be going away
All night they tossed and tumbled Till the daylight did appear The soldier rose, put on his clothes, Saying, fare you well my dear For the drums they are a sounding And the fifes they so sweetly play If it werent for that polly my dear With you Id gladly stay
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap And the fifes they loudly play Fare you well polly my dear I must be going away
Now come you gentleman soldier, Wont you marry me? Oh no my dearest polly Such things can never be For Ive a wife already Children I have three Two wives are allowed in the army But ones too many for me
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap And the fifes they loudly play Fare you well polly my dear I must be going away
If anyone comes a courting you, You can treat them to a glass If anyone comes a courting you, You can say youre a country lass You neednt ever tell them, Nor pass it off as a joke That you got drilled in a sentry box Wrapped up in a soldiers cloke
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap And the fifes they loudly play Fare you well polly my dear I must be going away
Oh its come my gentleman soldier, Why didnt you tell me so? my parents will be angy When this they come to know when nine months had been and gone The poor girl she brought shame She had a little militia boy And she didnt know his name
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap And the fifes they loudly play Fare you well polly my dear I must be going away