Well, it's of a gentleman soldier as a sentry he did stand He saluted a fair maid by a waving of his 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 in a soldier's cloak And the drums they go with a rata ta tat And the fifes they loudly play Fare thee well Polly me dear, I must be going away All night they tossed and tumbled til daylight did appear The soldier rose, put on his clothes, saying, fare you well me dear For the drums they are a sounding and the fifes does sweetly play If it weren't for that dear Polly then along with you I'd stay And the drums they go with a rata ta tat And the fifes they loudly play Fare thee well Polly me 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 the army but one's too many for me And the drums they go with a rata ta tat 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 ever you played this joke That you were drilled in a sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak And the drums they go with a rata ta tat And the fifes they loudly play Fare thee well Polly me 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 hade come and passed the poor girl she brought shame She had a little militia boy and she didn't know his name And the drums they go with a rata ta tat And the fifes they loudly play Fare thee well Polly me dear, I must be going away (c) Folkaholics