The Gentleman Soldier

It's of a gentleman soldier as a sentry he did stand

He saluted a fair maiden by a waving of his hand

And 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 soldier's cloak

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap

And the fifes they loudly play

Fare thee well, Polly me dear

I must be going away

All night they tossed and tumbled till the morning did appear

The soldier rose, put on his clothes, he said, "Fare well my dear"

All the drums are loudly beating and the pipes they sweetly play

If it weren't for that Polly me dear with you I'd gladly stay

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap

And the fifes they loudly play

Fare thee well, Polly me 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 you're a country lass

You don't have to tell them that you ever played this joke

That you got drilled in a sentry box, wrapped up in a soldier's cloak

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap

And the fifes they loudly play

Fare thee well, Polly me dear

I must be going away

Now, come you gentleman soldier, won't you marry me?

Oh no, me dearest Polly, this thing can never be

For I've a wife already, children I have three

Two wives are allowed in the army but one's too many for me

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap

And the fifes they loudly play

Fare thee well, Polly me dear

I must be going away

Oh, it's come my gentleman soldier, why didn't you tell me so?

Me parents will be angry 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 didn't know his name

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap

And the fifes they loudly play

Fare thee well, Polly me dear

I must be going away

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap

And the fifes they loudly play

Fare thee well, Polly me dear

I must be going away