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 slender
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 slender
and me fingers long and small
to play up on the rub a dub
the best of them all