It's 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 soldier's 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 beating
and the fifes they so 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 you well polly my dear
i must be going away
Now come you gentleman soldier,
won't you marry me?
oh no my dearest polly
such things 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 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 you're a country lass
you needn't ever tell them,
nor pass it off as a joke
that you got drilled in a sentry box
wrapped up in a soldier's 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 it's come my gentleman soldier,
why didn't 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 didn't 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