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Tis of a gentleman soldier |
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As sentry he did stand |
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Kindly saluted a fair maiden |
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By the waiving of his hand |
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So boldly then he kissed her |
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And he passed it all off as a joke |
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He drilled her into in the sentry box |
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Wrapped up in a soldier's cloak |
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And the drums that go with a rat a tat tat |
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And the fifes did loudly play |
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Saying fare thee well polly me dear |
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I must be going away |
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Well there they tossed and tumbled |
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Till the daylight did appear |
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The soldier rose, put on his clothes, |
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Saying, fare you well my dear |
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For the drums they are a beating |
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And the fifes still loudly play |
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If it weren't for that polly me dear |
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With you I'd gladly stay |
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And the drums that go with a rat a tat tat |
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And the fifes did loudly play |
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Saying fare thee well polly me dear |
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I must be going away |
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Oh, come me gentleman soldier, |
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Now, won't you marry me? |
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Oh no me dearest polly |
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Such things they can never be |
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For I am married already |
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And children I have three |
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Two wives are allowed in the army |
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But one's too many for me |
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And the drums that go with a rat a tat tat |
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And the fifes did loudly play |
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Saying fare thee well polly me dear |
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I must be going away |
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If anyone comes a-courting you, |
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You can treat them to a glass |
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If anyone comes a-courting you, |
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You can say you're a country lass |
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And you needn't even tell him, |
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That ever you played a joke |
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That ever you went in a sentry box |
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Wrapped up in a soldier's cloak |
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And the drums that go with a rat a tat tat |
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And the fifes did loudly play |
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Saying fare thee well polly me dear |
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I must be going away |
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Oh come me gentleman soldier, |
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Why didn't you tell me so? |
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Me parents will be angy |
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When this they come to know |
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When nine long months were up and gone |
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The poor girl she brought shame |
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She had a little militia boy |
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And she couldn't tell his name |
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And the drums that go with a rat a tat tat |
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And the fifes did loudly play |
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Saying fare thee well polly me dear |
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I must be going away |
