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 [bad word] 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 [bad word] 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 [bad word] 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 [bad word] a courting you, 
You can treat them to a glass 
If [bad word] 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 [bad word] are going a rap a tap tap 
And the fifes they loudly play 
Fare you well polly my dear 
I must be going away 
 [bad word] 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 [bad word] 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 [bad word] my gentleman soldier, 
Why didn't you tell me so? my parents will be angy 
When this [bad word] 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 [bad word] are going a rap a tap tap 
And the fifes they loudly play 
Fare you well polly my dear 
I must be going away