When I was a young girl, the age of sixteen
From my parents ran away, I went to serve my queen
I enlisted in the Army, as another private man
Very soon they taught me, to beat upon the drum

To beat upon the drum
Yeah to beat upon the drum
Very soon they learnt me
To beat upon the drum

They sent me to my barracks
They sent me to my bed
There I lay by soldiers side
I did not feel afraid
For unbuttoning my coat of red
I often times did smile
To think myself a drummer boy
But a maiden all the while

A maiden all the while
Yeah a maiden all the while
To think myself a drummer boy
But a maiden all the while

They sent me up to London
They sent me to the tower
There I might have been until this very day and hour
A young girl fell in love with me
I told her I was a maid
Straightway to my officer
Then my secret she betrayed

My secret she betrayed
Yeah my secret she betrayed
Straightway to my officer
My secret she betrayed

My officer he sent for me
To see if it was true
I stood there and I smiled
Now this day I caused to rue
He looked upon me kindly
And these words to me he said
It’s a pity we should lose you son
Such a drummer as you’ve made

Such a drummer as you’ve made
Such a drummer as you’ve made
It’s a pity we should lose you son
Such a drummer as you’ve made

So fare thee well dear officer
You have been kind to me
Fare thee well dear comrades
Won’t you raise a glass for me
And if the war breaks out again
And you prove short of men
I’ll put on my cap and feather and
I’ll beat my drum again

I’ll beat my drum again
Yeah I’ll beat my drum again
I’ll put on my cap and feather and
I’ll beat my drum again, yeah