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 beating
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

[the sentry box]
---------------------------------

twas on one sunday evening
On sentry did I stand
I fell in love with some pretty girl
By shaking of her hand;
By shaking of her hand, my boys,
And the passing of a joke,
I slipped her into the sentry box
And rolld her up in my cloak.

O! there we tossd and tumbld
Till daylight did appear
Then I arose, put on my clothes,
Saying, fare you well my dear.
The drums they are a-beating
And the fifes so sweetly play,
If it wasnt for that, dear polly,
Along with you Id stay.

If anyone comes a-courting you,
You treat them with a glass -
If anyone comes a-courting you,
Say youre a country lass.
You need not even tell them
That ever you passd a joke,
That ever you went in a sentry box
Wrappd up in a soldiers cloak.

Now come, my valiant young soldier,
O! wont you marry me?
O! no, my dearest polly,
Such things they never can be,
For married I am already
And children I have three,
Two wives are allowd in the army,
But one is enough for me.

O! now, my valiant young soldier,
Why hadnt you told me so?
My parents theyll be angry
If ever they come to know.
When nine long months was up and passd
This this poor girl she brought shame,
For she had a little militia boy
And she could not tell his name.

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