I see only one version of this song in the Digitrad. This is the version from which Adam McNaughtan borrowed the tune, for his lovely song, Yellow on the Broom.


THE FEMALE DRUMMER

When I was a young girl at the age of sixteen,
Far from my parents ran away all to serve the Queen,
The officer enlisting me said I was a nice young man,
"I think you'll make a drummer, so it's come along young man.

So it's come along young man,
so it's come along young man,
I think you'll make a drummer,
so it's come along young man.

I was sent up to my quarters all for to go to bed,
And sleeping by a soldier's side I did not feel afraid,
In pulling off my red jacket it often made me smile,
To think I was a drummer and a maiden all the while.

And a maiden all the while,
And a maiden all the while,
To think I was a drummer,
And a maiden all the while.

My waist being long and slender, my fingers thin and small,
All for to beat upon the drum I soon exceeded all,
I played upon my kettledrums like other drummers played,
I played upon my kettledrums and still remained a maid.

And still remained a maid,
And still remained a maid,
I played upon my kettledrums,
And still remained a maid.

I was sent up to London all for to guard the Tower,
And there I might have been till this very day and hour,
But a young girl fell in love with me, I told her I was a maid,
And straightway to my officer the secret she betrayed.

The secret she betrayed,
The secret she betrayed,
And straightway to my officer,
The secret she betrayed.

The officer he sent for me to know if it was true,
"Of such a thing I cannot nor I won't believe of you",
He looked me in the face and he smiled as he said,
"It's a pity we should lose such a drummer as you've made."

Such a drummer as you've made,
So fare you well, dear officer,
It's a pity we should lose,
Such a drummer as you've made,

So fare you well, dear officer, you have been kind to me,
And likewise dear comrades, I'm not forgetting thee,
And if your army should be short for want of any man,
I'll put on my hat and feather and I'll march with you again.

I'll march with you again,
I'll march with you again
I'll put on my hat and feather,
and I'll march with you again.