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It's of a gentleman soldier |
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As sentry he did stand |
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He saluted a fair maiden |
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By a waiving of his hand |
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So then he boldly kissed her |
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And he passed it off as a joke |
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He drilled her up in the sentry box |
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Wrapped up in a soldier's cloke |
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And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
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And the fifes they loudly play |
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Fare you well polly my dear |
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I must be going away |
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All night they tossed and tumbled |
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Till the daylight did appear |
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The soldier rose, put on his clothes, |
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Saying, fare you well my dear |
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For the drums they are a beating |
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And the fifes they so sweetly play |
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If it weren't for that polly my dear |
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With you i'd gladly stay |
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And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
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And the fifes they loudly play |
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Fare you well polly my dear |
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I must be going away |
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Now come you gentleman soldier, |
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Won't you marry me? |
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Oh no my dearest polly |
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Such things can never be |
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For i've a wife already |
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Children i have three |
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Two wives are allowed in the army |
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But one's too many for me |
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And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
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And the fifes they loudly play |
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Fare you well polly my dear |
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I must be going away |
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If anyone comes a courting you, |
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You can treat them to a glass |
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If anyone comes a courting you, |
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You can say you're a country lass |
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You needn't ever tell them, |
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Nor pass it off as a joke |
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That you got drilled in a sentry box |
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Wrapped up in a soldier's cloke |
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And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
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And the fifes they loudly play |
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Fare you well polly my dear |
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I must be going away |
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Oh it's come my gentleman soldier, |
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Why didn't you tell me so? my parents will be angy |
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When this they come to know when nine months had been and gone |
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The poor girl she brought shame |
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She had a little militia boy |
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And she didn't know his name |
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And the drums are going a rap a tap tap |
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And the fifes they loudly play |
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Fare you well polly my dear |
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I must be going away |
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These are the lyrics as they appear on the rum, sodomy, & the lash insert. |
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[the sentry box] |
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'twas on one sunday evening |
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On sentry did i stand |
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I fell in love with some pretty girl |
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By shaking of her hand; |
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By shaking of her hand, my boys, |
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And the passing of a joke, |
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I slipped her into the sentry box |
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And roll'd her up in my cloak. |
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O! there we toss'd and tumbl'd |
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Till daylight did appear |
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Then i arose, put on my clothes, |
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Saying, "fare you well my dear. |
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The drums they are a-beating |
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And the fifes so sweetly play, |
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If it wasn't for that, dear polly, |
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Along with you i'd stay." |
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If anyone comes a-courting you, |
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You treat them with a glass - |
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If anyone comes a-courting you, |
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Say you're a country lass. |
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You need not even tell them |
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That ever you pass'd a joke, |
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That ever you went in a sentry box |
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Wrapp'd up in a soldier's cloak. |
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"now come, my valiant young soldier, |
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O! won't you marry me?" |
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"o! no, my dearest polly, |
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Such things they never can be, |
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For married i am already |
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And children i have three, |
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Two wives are allow'd in the army, |
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But one is enough for me." |
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"o! now, my valiant young soldier, |
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Why hadn't you told me so? |
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My parents they'll be angry |
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If ever they come to know." |
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When nine long months was up and pass'd |
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This this poor girl she brought shame, |
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For she had a little militia boy |
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And she could not tell his name. |