The Drummer Girl

Something for Veterans - thank you!

I was brought up in Dublin Town and when I was sixteen
I ran away to seek me pay and a soldier I became

With me fine cap and feathers, likewise me rattle and drum
They learned me to play upon the ra-ba-da-ba-dum
With a me gentle waist so slender, me finger long and small
To play upon the ra-ba-dum the best of them all

So boldly did I fight me boys, although I'm but a lass
I fought so long, I fought so hard I liked them in the --
Buttoning up me trousers, twas often did I smile
To think I lay with a tousand men and a maiden all the while

With me fine cap and feathers, likewise me rattle and drum
They learned me to play upon the ra-ba-da-ba-dum
With a me gentle waist so slender, me finger long and small
To play upon the ra-ba-dum the best of them all

They never found me secret out until this very hour
When they sent me off to London to be sentry o'er the Tower
When a young girl fell in love with me and found out I was a maid
She ran unto me captain and me secret she betrayed

With me fine cap and feathers, likewise me rattle and drum
They learned me to play upon the ra-ba-da-ba-dum
With a me gentle waist so slender, me finger long and small
To play upon the ra-ba-dum the best of them all

He reached into me tunic and he felt that it was true
"Tis a shame," said he, "To lose a pretty drummer boy like you."
So off to church I went with him; his wife I did become
Now he's the one who bangs upon my ra-ba-da-ba-dum.