Lyrics

[Verse 1] It's of a gentleman soldier, as a sentry he did stand He saluted a fair maiden by a waving 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 cloak [Chorus] 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 'til 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" [Chorus] 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 [Verse 3] "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" [Chorus] 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 [Verse 4] "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, children, I have three Two wives are allowed in the army, but one's too many for me" [Chorus] 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 [Verse 5] "Oh 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 [Chorus] 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 [Chorus] 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