The Gentleman Soldier Lyrics - Rum Sodomy & The Lash - Pogues

It's of a gentleman soldier as a sentry he did stand 

He saluted a fair maiden by a waving of his hand 

And 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 cloak 

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap 

And the fifes they loudly play 

Fare thee well, Polly me dear 

I must be going away 

All night they tossed and tumbled till the morning did appear 

The soldier rose, put on his clothes, he said, "Fare well my dear" 

All the drums are loudly beating and the pipes they sweetly play 

If it weren't for that Polly me dear with you I'd gladly stay 

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap 

And the fifes they loudly play 

Fare thee well, Polly me 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 don't have to tell them that you ever played this joke 

That you got drilled in a sentry box, wrapped up in a soldier's cloak 

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap 

And the fifes they loudly play 

Fare thee well, Polly me dear 

I must be going away 

Now, come you gentleman soldier, won't you marry me? 

Oh no, me dearest Polly, this thing 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 thee well, Polly me dear 

I must be going away 

Oh, it's come my gentleman soldier, why didn't you tell me so? 

Me parents will be angry 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 thee well, Polly me dear 

I must be going away 

And the drums are going a rap a tap tap 

And the fifes they loudly play 

Fare thee well, Polly me dear 

I must be going away