SOLDIER MAID

OR RUB A DUB A DUB



When I was a fair maid at the age of sweet sixteen

From my parents I did run away a soldier to become

I enlisted in the army a soldier for to be

And they learnt me tae play upon the rub a dub a dee



With my nice cap and feathers if you only could have seen

You'd have sworn in your very heart a young man I had been

With my gentle waist so slender and my fingers long and small

I could rattle up the rub a dub a dee the best of them all



Oh many is the prank I played upon the field

And many was the young man his love to me revealed

Many a prank have I seen among the French

And so boldly I fought, though only a wench



With my regiment at the front all the time I might have been

With the brave Duke of York at the siege of Valenciennes

But was favored by my officer for fear I might be slain

I was sent home to England for recruiting back again



Many a night in the guard room I have lain

I never was afraid to lie down with the men

At the pulling off my breeches I oftimes gave a smile

To think I lay with a regiment, and a maiden all the while



That might never have been known until this very hour

But they sent me up to London to keep sentry in the Tower

A lady fell in love with me, I told her I was a maid

She went to my officer, and the secret she betrayed



My officer sent for me to see if that was true

I told him that it was - What else could I do

I told him it was and he smiled at me and said

It's a pity for to lose you, such a drummer as you made



But for your valiant conduct at the siege of Valciennes

A bounty you shall get my girl, a bounty from the king

But should the wars arise again and the King be wanting men

I'll put on my regimentals and I'll fight for him again



@soldier @transvestite @music

recorded by Frankie Armstrong on Music Plays So Grand

ingersA frightened glance turn

Roy Harris on Rambling Soldier

Watersons in Yorkshire Garland

filename[ SOLDMAID

SF

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