The Gentleman Soldier

It's of a gentleman soldier as 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 my dear

I must be going away

All night they tossed and tumbled till the morning did appear

The soldier rose, put on his clothes, and said "Farewell, my dear

For the drums are loudly beating, and the fifes they sweetly play

If it weren't for that, Polly my 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 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 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 my dear

I must be going away

"Now come you gentleman soldier! Won't you marry me?"

"Oh no, my dearest Polly, this 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 many for me"

And the drums are going a-rap-a-tap-tap

And the fifes, they loudly play

Fare thee well, Polly my dear

I must be going away

"Oh come you gentleman soldier! Why didn't you tell me so?

Me parents will be angry when this they come to know"

And 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 my 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 my dear

I must be going away