Well it's of a gentleman soldier as a sentry he did stand
He saluted the fair maid by a wavin' of the hand
So boldly then he kissed her and he passed it off as a joke
He drilled her up in the sentry box, wrapped up a the soldier's coat
And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the pipes did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly my dear I must be going away

All night they tossed and tumbled 'till daylight did appear
The soldier rose, put on his clothes, said "Fare thee well my dear"
For the drums they are a sounding and the pipes did sweetly play
If it weren't for that dear Polly, then along with you I'd stay
And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the pipes did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly my dear I must be going away

Oh come you gentleman soldier, "Won't you marry me?"
"Oh no me dearest, Polly. Such things never can be,
For I've a wife already and children I have three.
Two wives are allowed in army but one's too many for me."
And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the pipes did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly my dear I must be going away

If anyone comes a courtin', you can treat them to a glass
If anyone comes a courtin', you can say you're a country lass
You don't have to tell them that ever you played this joke
That you were drilled in the sentry box wrapped up in the soldier's cloak
And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the pipes did 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
My parents will be angry when this they come to know
And when nine long months had come and past, the poor girl she brought shame
She had a little militia boy and she didn't know his name
And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the pipes did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly my dear I must be going away

See also:
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