It's of a gentlemen soldier as a sentry he did stand He saluted the fair maid be a wavin' of the hand So boldly then he kissed and he passed it off as a joke He drilled her up in the sentry box, wrapped up a the Soldiers coat And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the fifes Did 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 thee Well me dear For the drums they are a pounding and the fifes did Sweetly play If it weren't for that dear Polly, then along with you I'd stay And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the fifes Did loudly play, Fare thee well Polly me dear I must be going away Oh come you gentlemen soldier, "Won't you marry me?" "Oh no me dearest, Polly. Such things never can be." "I've a wife already and children I have three Two wives are allowed in army but one is too many for Me." And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the fifes Did loudly play, Fare thee well Polly me dear I must be going away If anyone comes a courtin' you, you can treat them to a Glass If anyone comes a courtin' 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 the sentry box wrapped up in The soldier's cloak And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the fifes Did loudly play, Fare thee well Polly me dear I must be going away Oh come you gentlemen soldier, when you tell me so Me parents will be angry when this they come to know And when nine long months had come and past, the poor Girl she brought shame She had a little militia boy and she didn't know his Name And the drums did go with a rat-ta-ta-tat and the fifes Did loudly play, Fare thee well Polly me dear I must be going away