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