It's of a gentlemen soldier as a sentry he did stand
He saluted the fair maid be a wavin' of the hand
So boldly then he kissed and he passed it off as a joke
He drilled her up in the sentry box, wrapped up a the 
soldiers coat
And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the fifes 
did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly me 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 me dear
For the drums they are a pounding and the fifes 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 fifes 
did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly me dear I must be going away

Oh come you gentlemen soldier, "Won't you marry me?"
"Oh no me dearest, Polly. Such things never can be.”
"I've a wife already and children I have three
me.”
And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the fifes 
did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly me dear I must be going away

If anyone comes a courtin' you, you can treat them to a 
glass
If anyone comes a courtin' you, 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 fifes 
did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly me dear I must be going away

Oh come you gentlemen soldier, when you tell me so
Me 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 fifes 
did loudly play,
Fare thee well Polly me dear I must be going away