It's of a gentleman soldier as a sentry he did stand
He saluted a fair maiden by a waving of his hand
And then he boldly kissed her and he passed it off as a joke
He drilled her up in a sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Fare thee well, Polly me 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, "Fare well my dear
For the drums are loudly beating and the fifes they sweetly play
If it weren't for that, Polly me dear, with you I'd gladly stay"

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Fare thee well, Polly me 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 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

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Fare thee well, Polly me 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 and 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 thee well, Polly me dear
I must be going away

"Oh it's come me gentleman soldier, why didn't you tell me so?
Me parents will be angry when this they come to know"
And when nine months had been and gone the poor girl she felt shamed
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 thee well, Polly me dear
I must be going away

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Fare thee well, Polly me dear
I must be going away