Strike Up the Band

George & Ira Gershwin
1927

The Gershwins wrote this as the title song for a satirical show poking fun at jingoism and militaristic music, in which it was played by the Red Nichols orchestra, featuring the likes of Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey. It was used again in a 1940 Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney movie that bore no resemblance to the original show. The brother composers also gave it to UCLA to use as one of its school songs.

Lyrics:

Let the drums roll out,
Let the trumpet call,
While the people shout,
"Strike up the band!"

Hear the cymbals ring,
Callin' one and all
To the martial swing,
Strike up the band!

There is work to be done, to be done.
There's a war to be won, to be won.
Come, you son of a son of a gun,
Take your stand.

Fall in line, yea a bow!
Come along, let's go!
Hey, leader, strike up the band!

Recorded By:

Ella Fitzgerald
Tony Bennett
Maureen McGovern
Martin Denny
Boston Pops