THE GENTLEMAN SOLDIER
As recorded by A. L. Lloyd on "England & Her Traditional Songs" (2003)

It's of a gentleman soldier, as a sentry he did stand.
He kindly saluted a fair maid by waving of his hand.
So boldly then he kissed her, and passed it as a joke.
He drilled her into the sentry box, wrapped up in a soldier's cloak.

CHORUS:
For the drums did go with a rap-a-tap-tap, and the fifes did loudly play,
Saying: "Fare you well, my Polly dear. I must be going away."

Oh, there they tossed and tumbled, till 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 so sweetly play.
If it warn't for that, dear Polly, along with you I'd stay."
For the drums, &c.

"Now, come, you gentleman soldier, and won't you marry me?"
"Oh, no, my dearest Polly, such things can never be,
For married I am already, and children I have three.
Two wives are allowed in the army, but one's too many for me!"
For the drums, &c.

"If anyone comes a-courting you, you treat 'em to a glass.
If anyone comes a-courting you, you say you're a country lass.
You needn't even tell them that ever you played this joke,
That ever you went in a sentry-box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak."
For the drums, &c.

"It's come, my gentleman soldier. Why didn't you tell me so?
My parents will be angry when this they come to know."
When nine long months was up and past, this poor girl she brought shame,
For she had a little militia boy, and she couldn't tell his name.
For the drums, &c.

[A. L. Lloyd sang this on the 33 1/3 recording that went with the "Penguin Book of English Folksongs." Tune given there is that below, which was that collected by Anne Geddes Gilchrist in 1907.]

X:1
T:The Gentleman Soldier
S:Penguin Book of English Folksongs
Q:100
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:G mixolydian
D| B,2D D D D|G3B A G|A2DD2A|(G3G2)D|\
B,D D D D D|G3B2G|A2DD2A|(G3G2)G|\
B2BB2G|A(c2c)zA|G2GG2B|(D3D2)B,|B,2D D D D|\
G2AB2B|A D D D2A|(G3G)"Chorus" G A|B2B B A G|\
A A A c B A|G2G (GA) B|(D3D) D D|\
B,2DD2D|G2AB2B|A2D D D A|(G3G2)|]