i was brought up in yorkshire and when i was sixteen
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