pogues
the gentleman soldier
[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..