it s of a gentleman soldier as sentry he did stand he saluted a fair maiden by a waiving 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 cloke and the drums are going a rap a tap tap and the fifes they loudly play fare you well polly my dear i must be going away all night they tossed and tumbled till the daylight did appear the soldier rose put on his clothes saying fare you well my dear for the drums they are a beating and the fifes they so sweetly play if it weren t for that polly my dear with you i d gladly stay and the drums are going a rap a tap tap and the fifes they loudly play fare you well polly my 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 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 you well polly my 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 needn t ever tell them nor pass it off as a joke that you got drilled in a sentry box wrapped up in a soldier s cloke and the drums are going a rap a tap tap and the fifes they loudly play fare you well polly my dear i must be going away oh it s come my gentleman soldier why didn t you tell me so my parents will be angy 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 and the drums are going a rap a tap tap and the fifes they loudly play fare you well polly my dear i must be going away