THE GENTLEMAN SOLDIER
As recorded by The Pogues on "Rum, Sodomy & the Lash" (1985)

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

Chorus:
And the drums are going rap-a-tap-tap and the fifes they loudly play.
Fare thee well, Polly my dear; I must be going away.

All night they tossed and tumbled, till the morning did appear.
The soldier rose, put on his clothes, and said "Farewell, my dear,
For the drums are loudly beating and the fifes so sweetly play.
If it weren't for that, Polly my dear, with you I'd gladly stay.

"If anyone comes a-courting, you can treat them to a glass.
If anyone comes a-courting, you can say you're a country lass.
You don't have to tell them that you ever played this joke,
That you got drilled in a sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak."

"Now come, you gentleman soldier, won't you marry me?"
"Oh, no, my dearest Polly, this thing can never be.
For I've a wife already, and children I have three.
Two wives are allowed in the army, but one's too many for me."

"Oh, 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 had come and gone, the girl she was shamed,
She had a little militia boy, and she didn't know his name.


Hey Mickey, 2 helps in 2 threads!! if you want more lyrics of this sort, email me direct calach@fsbdial.co.uk and I'll email you direct, that way I don't have to put the breaks in, and you don't have to take them out your end!

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Pogues Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP3w6yJR-DQ