The Gentleman Soldier Song Lyrics Guitar Chords
The Gentleman Soldier Song Lyrics And Easy Guitar Chords Made famous by The Dubliners with Luke Kelly on vocals and also recorded by The Pogues, a traditional song. Sheet music and ukulele chords included. List Of Pogues Songs here. Guitar chords in Chordpro version.
The song lyrics with easy to play guitar chords in D Major.
[D]It’s of a gentleman soldier
As[A] sentry he did[D] stand
He[D] saluted a fair maiden
By a[A] waiving of his[D] hand
So then he boldly kissed her
And he[G] passed it off as a[D] joke
He drilled her up in the sentry box
Wrapped up in a[A] soldier’s[D] cloke
And[D] the drums are going a[A] rap a tap tap
And the[D] fifes they loudly[A] play
Fare you[D] well polly my dear
I must be[A] going a[D]way
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 polley 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.
Back to song titles G-F
[D]It’s of a gentleman soldier
As[A] sentry he did[D] stand
He[D] saluted a fair maiden
By a[A] waiving of his[D] hand
So then he boldly kissed her
And he[G] passed it off as a[D] joke
He drilled her up in the sentry box
Wrapped up in a[A] soldier’s[D] cloke
And[D] the drums are going a[A] rap a tap tap
And the[D] fifes they loudly[A] play
Fare you[D] well polly my dear
I must be[A] going a[D]way
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 polley 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.
Back to song titles G-F
About The Song.
this one is an old-fashioned bawdy cautionary tale about charm, lust, lies, and consequences — topped with a marching beat and a wink. It’s the story of a smooth-talking soldier who could seduce a saint, and a poor lass named Polly who learns (the hard way) never to trust a man in uniform.
It begins with a gentleman soldier on sentry duty — guarding the post, bayonet out, morals questionable.
He sees Polly passing by, and instead of simply nodding like a decent fella, he gives her a salute-flirt hybrid that translates to:
“How’re ya now?”
Next thing you know, he pulls her into the sentry box — wraps her in his greatcoat --
and drills her like she’s part of parade practice.
He passes it off as “a joke” — which is a charming euphemism for:
“He knew exactly what he was doing.”
After a night of romance that would fog up a frosty window:
daylight comes, the soldier rises, tosses on his uniform, and gives her the old classic:
“Love to stay, but the drums are calling.”
Meaning:
“I’m off — please don’t get attached, or pregnant, or both.”
The fifes play sweetly, the drums go rap-a-tap-tap — and away he trots like a thieving fox.
Then Polly does the sensible thing — asks him to marry her.
And he hits her with:
“Ah, no — I’ve already got a wife. And three children.”
Then adds the remarkable logic:
Two wives are allowed in the army --
“but one’s too many for me.”
A lad who can’t manage one woman out here juggling two on paper — sure, the state of him.
Then comes the soldier’s parting advice — the sleaziest tip since the invention of rum:
“Hide the evidence, Polly — at least until I’m long gone.”
But alas, biology has its own timetable.
Nine months later — Polly produces a baby militia boy --
a tiny infant with:
It’s a song full of:
Never trust a soldier who kisses first, jokes second, and asks questions never.
And especially beware the ones who leave with the drums --
because they’re usually leaving someone else behind too.
this one is an old-fashioned bawdy cautionary tale about charm, lust, lies, and consequences — topped with a marching beat and a wink. It’s the story of a smooth-talking soldier who could seduce a saint, and a poor lass named Polly who learns (the hard way) never to trust a man in uniform.
It begins with a gentleman soldier on sentry duty — guarding the post, bayonet out, morals questionable.
He sees Polly passing by, and instead of simply nodding like a decent fella, he gives her a salute-flirt hybrid that translates to:
“How’re ya now?”
Next thing you know, he pulls her into the sentry box — wraps her in his greatcoat --
and drills her like she’s part of parade practice.
He passes it off as “a joke” — which is a charming euphemism for:
“He knew exactly what he was doing.”
After a night of romance that would fog up a frosty window:
daylight comes, the soldier rises, tosses on his uniform, and gives her the old classic:
“Love to stay, but the drums are calling.”
Meaning:
“I’m off — please don’t get attached, or pregnant, or both.”
The fifes play sweetly, the drums go rap-a-tap-tap — and away he trots like a thieving fox.
Then Polly does the sensible thing — asks him to marry her.
And he hits her with:
“Ah, no — I’ve already got a wife. And three children.”
Then adds the remarkable logic:
Two wives are allowed in the army --
“but one’s too many for me.”
A lad who can’t manage one woman out here juggling two on paper — sure, the state of him.
Then comes the soldier’s parting advice — the sleaziest tip since the invention of rum:
- If someone courts you, offer them a drink
- Pretend you’re a sweet innocent country girl
- And for heaven’s sake don’t mention the sentry box incident
“Hide the evidence, Polly — at least until I’m long gone.”
But alas, biology has its own timetable.
Nine months later — Polly produces a baby militia boy --
a tiny infant with:
- no name from the father
- no support
- and no explanation except an unhelpful marching rhythm
It’s a song full of:
- cheeky soldiering
- sweet-talking scoundrels
- naive young women
- and the consequences of mixing lust with uniforms and lies
Never trust a soldier who kisses first, jokes second, and asks questions never.
And especially beware the ones who leave with the drums --
because they’re usually leaving someone else behind too.
The gentleman soldier standard sheet music
The Gentleman soldier sheet music notes in Solfege, do re mi.
The gentleman soldier lyrics
