Well its of a gentleman soldier As sentry he did stand He saluted the fair maiden With a waiving of his hand So boldly then kissed her And passed it off as a joke He drilled her up in the sentry box Wrapped up in his soldiers cloke Well the drums took over the rat a tap tap And the pipes do loudly play Fare thee well Molly my dear I must be going away Well they lightly tossed and tumbled Till daylight did appear The soldier then put on his clothes, Saying, fare you well my dear For the drums they are a sounding And the pipes do loudly play If it wasn't for that Molly my dear Along with you I'd stay Well the drums took over the rat a tap tap And the pipes do loudly play Fare thee well Molly my dear I must be going away Now tell me gentleman soldier, When will you marry me? Well now my dearest Molly That thing never can be For I've a wife already And children I have three And an other wife in the army And thats one too many for me Well the drums took over the rat a tap tap And the pipes do loudly play Fare thee well Molly my dear I must be going away And now my soldier laddie, Why didnt you tell me so? My parents will be angy When this they come to know. And she'll remember passing by, The poor girl she brought shame She had a little militia boy And she didnt know his name Well the drums took over the rat a tap tap And the pipes do loudly play Fare thee well Molly my dear I must be going away