Unknown - Soldier Maid Lyrics

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