|
(The Pogues' Version) |
|
-------------------------------- |
|
It's of a gentleman soldier |
|
as sentry he did stand |
|
He saluted a fair maiden |
|
by a waiving of his hand |
|
So then he boldly kissed her |
|
and he passed it off as a joke |
|
He drilled her up in the sentry box |
|
wrapped up in a soldier's cloke |
|
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
|
And the fifes they loudly play |
|
Fare you well Polly my dear |
|
I must be going away |
|
All night 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 Polly my dear |
|
with you I'd gladly stay |
|
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
|
And the fifes they loudly play |
|
Fare you well Polly my 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 I've a wife already |
|
children I have three |
|
Two wives are allowed in the army |
|
but one's too many for me |
|
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
|
And the fifes they loudly play |
|
Fare you well Polly my 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 |
|
You needn't ever tell them, |
|
nor pass it off as a joke |
|
That you got drilled in a sentry box |
|
wrapped up in a soldier's cloke |
|
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
|
And the fifes they loudly play |
|
Fare you well Polly my dear |
|
I must be going away |
|
Oh it's come my gentleman soldier, |
|
why didn't you tell me so? My parents will be angy |
|
when this they come to know When nine months had been and gone |
|
the poor girl she brought shame |
|
She had a little militia boy |
|
and she didn't know his name |
|
And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
|
And the fifes they loudly play |
|
Fare you well Polly my dear |
|
I must be going away |
|
These are the lyrics as they appear on the Rum, Sodomy, & The Lash insert. |
|
(The Sentry Box) |
|
--------------------------------- |
|
'Twas on one Sunday evening |
|
on sentry did I stand |
|
I fell in love with some pretty girl |
|
by shaking of her hand; |
|
By shaking of her hand, my boys, |
|
and the passing of a joke, |
|
I slipped her into the sentry box |
|
and roll'd her up in my cloak. |
|
O! there we toss'd and tumbl'd |
|
till daylight did appear |
|
Then I arose, put on my clothes, |
|
saying, "Fare you well my dear. |
|
The drums they are a-beating |
|
and the fifes so sweetly play, |
|
If it wasn't for that, dear Polly, |
|
along with you I'd stay." |
|
If anyone comes a-courting you, |
|
you treat them with a glass - |
|
If anyone comes a-courting you, |
|
say you're a country lass. |
|
You need not even tell them |
|
that ever you pass'd a joke, |
|
That ever you went in a sentry box |
|
wrapp'd up in a soldier's cloak. |
|
"Now come, my valiant young soldier, |
|
O! won't you marry me?" |
|
"O! no, my dearest Polly, |
|
such things they never can be, |
|
For married I am already |
|
and children I have three, |
|
Two wives are allow'd in the army, |
|
but one is enough for me." |
|
"O! now, my valiant young soldier, |
|
why hadn't you told me so? |
|
My parents they'll be angry |
|
if ever they come to know." |
|
When nine long months was up and pass'd |
|
this this poor girl she brought shame, |
|
For she had a little militia boy |
|
and she could not tell his name. |