It's of a gentleman soldier

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 

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 

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 

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