Well I saw the gentleman soldier, as a sentry he did stand
He saluted the 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 to the sentry box
Wrapped up in a soldier's coat
Chorus:
And the drums they go with a rat-a-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 till daylight did appear
The soldier rose, put on his clothes
Said: 'Fare ey well, me dear'
For the drums they are a sounding
And the fifes they sweetly play
And if it weren't for that, my Polly
Then along with you I'd stay
Chorus,
O come, ye gentleman soldier, 'won't you marry me?'
'Oh no, me dearest Polly such things never can be
For I have a wife already and children I have three
Two wives are allowed in the army
But one is too many for me'
Chorus,
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 coat
Chorus,
'Oh come ye 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 had come and passed,
And purgatory got shame
She had a little millitia boy
And she didn't know his name
Chorus.
He saluted the 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 to the sentry box
Wrapped up in a soldier's coat
Chorus:
And the drums they go with a rat-a-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 till daylight did appear
The soldier rose, put on his clothes
Said: 'Fare ey well, me dear'
For the drums they are a sounding
And the fifes they sweetly play
And if it weren't for that, my Polly
Then along with you I'd stay
Chorus,
O come, ye gentleman soldier, 'won't you marry me?'
'Oh no, me dearest Polly such things never can be
For I have a wife already and children I have three
Two wives are allowed in the army
But one is too many for me'
Chorus,
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 coat
Chorus,
'Oh come ye 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 had come and passed,
And purgatory got shame
She had a little millitia boy
And she didn't know his name
Chorus.