The Gentleman Soldier
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
El Soldado Caballero
Es sobre un soldado caballero
que estaba de guardia
Saludó a una bella doncella
con un gesto de su mano
Entonces la besó audazmente
y lo tomó como una broma
La entrenó en la garita de la guardia
envuelta en el manto de un soldado
Y los tambores van rufián rufián rufián
Y las flautas suenan fuerte
Adiós Polly mi querida
Debo irme
Toda la noche se revolvieron y revolcaron
hasta que apareció la luz del día
El soldado se levantó, se vistió,
diciendo, adiós mi querida
Porque los tambores siguen sonando
y las flautas suenan tan dulcemente
Si no fuera por ti, Polly mi querida
me quedaría gustosamente contigo
Y los tambores van rufián rufián rufián
Y las flautas suenan fuerte
Adiós Polly mi querida
Debo irme
Ahora ven, soldado caballero,
¿te casarías conmigo?
Oh no, mi querida Polly
tales cosas nunca pueden ser
porque ya tengo esposa
y tres hijos tengo
Dos esposas están permitidas en el ejército
pero una es demasiado para mí
Y los tambores van rufián rufián rufián
Y las flautas suenan fuerte
Adiós Polly mi querida
Debo irme
Si alguien viene a cortejarte,
puedes invitarlo a una copa
Si alguien viene a cortejarte,
puedes decir que eres una campesina
Nunca necesitas contarles,
ni tomarlo como una broma
Que fuiste entrenada en una garita de guardia
envuelta en el manto de un soldado
Y los tambores van rufián rufián rufián
Y las flautas suenan fuerte
Adiós Polly mi querida
Debo irme
Oh, ven mi soldado caballero,
¿por qué no me lo dijiste antes? Mis padres estarán enojados
cuando se enteren Cuando pasaron nueve meses
la pobre chica trajo vergüenza
Tuvo un pequeño niño de la milicia
y no sabía su nombre
Y los tambores van rufián rufián rufián
Y las flautas suenan fuerte
Adiós Polly mi querida
Debo irme