Lyrics:

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