I was brought up in yorkshire and when i was six - teen
Oh i ran away to london and a soldier i be - came.
With my fine cap and feather like-wise me rattling drum
They learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum.

With my fine cap and feather like - wise me rattling drum
They learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum.
With me gentle waist so slend - er and me fingers long and small
To play up - on the rub-a-dub the best of them all.

And so many were the pranks that i saw among he french
And so bodly did i fight me boys although i'm but a wench.
And in buttoning up me trousers so often have i smiled
To think i lay with a thousand men and a maiden all the while.

With my fine cap and feather like - wise me rattling drum
They learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum.
With me gentle waist so slend - er and me fingers long and small
To play up - on the rub-a-dub the best of them all.

But they never found my secret out untill this very hour
When they sent me off to london to keep sentry at the tower.
And a young girl fell in love with me and she found that i was a maid
She went up to my officer and my secret she betrayed.

With my fine cap and feather like - wise me rattling drum
They learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum.
With me gentle waist so slend - er and me fingers long and small
To play up - on the rub-a-dub the best of them all.

They unbuttoned my red tunic and he found that it was true
It's a shame he says to lose a pretty drummer boy like you.
So now i must return to me mum and dad at home
And along with me bold comrades it's no longer will i roam.

With my fine cap and feather like - wise me rattling drum
They learned me to play upon the rub-a-dub-a-dum.
With me gentle waist so slend - er and me fingers long and small
To play up - on the rub-a-dub the best of them all.