It's of a gentleman soldier and a sentry he did stand.
He's saluted a fair maid with a waving of his hand.
So boldly there he kissed her and packed her off as a joke.
Then, he drilled her into a sentry
Box wrapped up in his soldier's cloak.
And the drums they go, "Rap-a-tap tap!"
And the fifes they loudly play.
Fare thee well Molly my dear, I must be going away.
All night they tossed and trembled till daylight did appear.
The soldier rose, put on his clothes said, "Fare thee well my dear.
The drums they are a beating and the fifes they loudly play.
If it weren't for that Molly dear, with you I long to stay."
And the drums they go, "Rap-a-tap tap!"
And the fifes they loudly play.
Fare thee well Molly my dear, I must be going away.
"Oh come my Gentleman soldier why don't you marry me?"
"Oh no my dearest Molly, for things we never can be.
'Cause married I am already and children I have three.
Two wives are allowed in the army but one's to many for me."
"And the drums they go, 'Rap-a-tap tap!'
And the fifes they loudly play.
Fare thee well Molly my dear, I must be going away."
"If anyone comes a courting you, you'd treat him to a glass.
If anyone comes a courting you, you'd say they're a country lass."
"You needn't even tell him that ever you'd played a joke.
That you drilled him into the sentry
Box wrapped in his soldier's cloak."
"And the drums they go, 'Rap-a-tap tap!'
And the fifes they loudly play.
Fare thee well Molly my dear, I must be going away."
"Oh come my Gentleman Soldier, why didn't you tell me so.
My parents will be angry from this you want to know."
"When nine long months were up and
Passed, the young girl she brought shame.
She had a little militia boy, she couldn't tell his name."
"And the drums they go, 'Rap-a-tap tap!'
And the fifes they loudly play.
Fare thee well Molly my dear, I must be going away."
"And the drums they go, 'Rap-a-tap tap!'
'Rap-a-tap tap!' 'Rap-a-tap tap!'
And the fifes they loudly play.
Fare thee well Molly my dear, I must be going away."