作曲 : anonymous It's of a gentleman soldier As sentry he did stand He saluted a fair maiden By a waiving of his hand So polly then he 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 For the drums are going a rap a tap tap The fifes they loudly play Saying, fare you well my polly dear I must be going away All there 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 dear polly Long with you I'd stay For the drums are going a rap a tap tap And the fifes they loudly play Saying fare are you well my polly 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 married I've already And children i have three Two wives are allowed in the army But one's too many for me For the drums are going a rap a tap tap And the fifes they loudly play Saying,fare you well my polly dear I must be going away For the drums are going a rap a tap tap The fifes they loudly play Saying fare you well my polly dear I must be going away