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

These are the lyrics as they appear on the Rum, Sodomy, & The Lash insert.



[The Sentry Box]
---------------------------------


'Twas on one Sunday evening
on sentry did I stand
I fell in love with some pretty girl
by shaking of her hand;
By shaking of her hand, my boys,
and the passing of a joke,
I slipped her into the sentry box
and roll'd her up in my cloak.

O! there we toss'd and tumbl'd
till daylight did appear
Then I arose, put on my clothes,
saying, "Fare you well my dear.
The drums they are a-beating
and the fifes so sweetly play,
If it wasn't for that, dear Polly,
along with you I'd stay."

If anyone comes a-courting you,
you treat them with a glass -
If anyone comes a-courting you,
say you're a country lass.
You need not even tell them
that ever you pass'd a joke,
That ever you went in a sentry box
wrapp'd up in a soldier's cloak.

"Now come, my valiant young soldier,
O! won't you marry me?"
"O! no, my dearest Polly,
such things they never can be,
For married I am already
and children I have three,
Two wives are allow'd in the army,
but one is enough for me."

"O! now, my valiant young soldier,
why hadn't you told me so?
My parents they'll be angry
if ever they come to know."
When nine long months was up and pass'd
this this poor girl she brought shame,
For she had a little militia boy
and she could not tell his name.