bekannte Liedtexte Devon-Cumberlands

[Celia Aintree]

The Gentleman Soldier

It's of a gentleman soldier
As a sentry he did stand
He saluted a fair maid
With a waiving of his hand
So boldly then he kissed her
And he passed it off as a joke
Then he drilled her into a sentry box
Wrapped up in a soldier's cloak

And the drums they go a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Saying fare thee well polly my 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 my dear
For the drums they are a beating
The fifes they loudly play
If it weren't for that polly my dear
With you I'd long to stay

And the drums they go a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Saying fare thee well polly my dear
I must be going away

Oh come my gentleman soldier,
Now won't you marry me?
Oh no my dearest polly
Such things they never can be
For married I am already
And children I have three
Two wives are allowed in the army
But one's too many for me

And the drums they go a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Saying fare thee well polly my dear
I must be going away

If anyone comes a courting you,
You treat him to a glass
If anyone comes a courting you,
You say you're a country lass
You needn't even tell them,
That ever you playing a joke
That ever you went in a sentry box
Wrapped up in a soldier's cloak

And the drums they go a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Saying fare thee well polly my dear
I must be going away

Oh come my gentleman soldier,
Why didn't you tell me so?
My parents they'll be angry
When this they come to know
When nine more months were up and passed
The young girl she brought shame
She had a little militia boy
And she couldn't tell his name

And the drums they go a rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Saying fare thee well polly my dear
I must be going away

And the drums they go a rap a tap tap
Rap a tap tap
Rap a tap tap
And the fifes they loudly play
Saying fare thee well polly my dear
I must be going away