[Lyric] Soldier Maid (Brooke & John McLoughlin)

When I was just a handsome maid, about age seventeen
I enlisted in the infantry afore to serve the queen
I enlisted in the infantry, a drummer boy to stand
To hear the cannons thunder and the music oh so grand

With-a me white cap and feather, likewise me rattle and drum
Me learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum
With-a me gentle waist so slender, me fingers slight and small
Could play upon the rub-a-dum the best of them all

And many was the battles that I saw among the French
And there I fought so bravely, although I was but a wench
And in buttoning up my trousers, I laughed and how I smiled
To think I lay with a thousand men and a maiden all the while

With-a me white cap and feather, likewise me rattle and drum
Me learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum
With-a me gentle waist so slender, me fingers slight and small
That could play upon the rub-a-dum the best of them all

And so I kept my secret safe until this very hour
They sent me up to London to be sentry at the Tower
A young girl fell in love with me, and I told her I was a maid
She went unto my officer, and my secret she betrayed
With-a me white cap and feather, likewise me rattle and drum
Me learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum
With-a me gentle waist so slender, me fingers slight and small
Could play upon the rub-a-dum the best of them all

My officer came up to me and he asked me if it was true
"It's a shame," he said, "to lose a pretty drummer boy like you
But now you must return unto your mum and dad at home"
So farewell to my comrades, no longer shall I roam

With-a me white cap and feather, likewise me rattle and drum
Me learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum
With-a me gentle waist so slender, me fingers slight and small
Could play upon the rub-a-dum the best of them all