The Gentleman Soldier

It's of a gentleman soldier in the sentry box he'd stand
He called him over a fair young maid by the waving of his hand
He hugged her and he kissed her and he passed it off as a joke
Then drilled her into the sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak.

Chorus:
O the drums they go with a rat-a-tat-tat
And the fifes so loudly play
Fare thee well, O Polly my dear
I must be gone away.

All night they tossed and tumbled 'till the daylight did appear
The soldier arose and put on his clothes and said "Farewell my dear
For I hear the bugle calling and it's time for me to go
If it weren't for that O Polly my dear, I'd never leave you go."

Chorus

If anyone comes a-courting you give 'em a maidenly kiss
If anyone comes a-courting you say you're a country miss
You needn't even tell them with the soldier you did joke
Or you spent the night in the sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak

Chorus

"O come my gentleman soldier, won't you marry me?"
"Alas, my dearest Polly I cannot wed with thee
For I am married already and children I have three
Though two wives are allowed in the army, one's too many for me!"

Chorus

"O come my gentleman soldier, why didn't you let me know?
My parents will be angry when they see how I did grow"
And when nine months had all of them passed, poor Polly she was shamed
For she had a little militia boy and she didn't know it's name

Chorus