Strike Up the Band
Bob Haggart and His Orchestra Lyrics

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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
Let's have fun, fun, fun
Come on 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!

There is work to be done, to be done
Let's have fun, fun, fun
Come on you son of a gun, of a gun
Take your stand

Fall in line, yea a bow
Come on, let's go
Hey, Leader, strike up

Hey, Leader, strike up
Hey, Leader, strike up the band!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Haggart and His Orchestra's song "Strike Up The Band" are a call to action. The opening lines, "Let the drums roll out, Let the trumpet call, While the people shout, 'Strike up the band,'" are an invitation to musicians to perform and entertain. The second verse, "Hear the cymbals ring, Callin' one and all, To the martial swing, Strike up the band," reinforces this call to action, urging people to join in and enjoy the music.

However, the lyrics also suggest that this is not just a lighthearted activity, but that there is a serious purpose to the music. The repeated line "There is work to be done, to be done, Let's have fun, fun, fun" suggests that while music can be enjoyable, it can also serve a greater purpose - to bring people together to achieve a common goal.

Line by Line Meaning

Let the drums roll out
Begin the preparations by rolling the drums out

Let the trumpet call
Announce the start of the event with the trumpet

While the people shout 'Strike up the band'
As the people cheer, begin playing the music

Hear the cymbals ring
Listen to the cymbals chime

Callin' one and all
Inviting everyone to join in

To the martial swing
To the rhythm of a military march

Strike up the band
Start playing the music

There is work to be done, to be done
There are tasks that need to be accomplished

Let's have fun, fun, fun
While working, let's also enjoy ourselves

Come on you son of a son, of a gun
Encouraging someone to join in the effort

Take your stand
Position yourself to play your part