Strike Up the Band
Ella Fitzgerald / Louis Armstrong 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
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!

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 on, let's go
Hey, leader, strike up




Hey, leader, strike up
Hey, leader, strike up the band

Overall Meaning

The song "Strike Up the Band" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong is a call to action, urging people to come together in the face of war and work together to achieve a common goal. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a community gathering together to the sound of drums and trumpets, with everyone falling in line to the martial swing of the music. The repetition of the phrase "there's work to be done" emphasizes the idea that in times of war and crisis, everyone must do their part.


The song also conveys a sense of urgency and excitement, with the cymbals ringing and the people shouting in anticipation of the band striking up. The use of the phrase "son of a son of a gun" adds a touch of humor and camaraderie to the lyrics, suggesting that everyone is in this together, regardless of their background or social status.


Line by Line Meaning

Let the drums roll out
Let the sound of the drums start the rhythm of the song


Let the trumpet call
Let the blaring trumpet announce the start of the music


While the people shout "strike up the band"
As the crowd cheers, begin playing the music


Hear the cymbals ring
Listen to the metallic sound of the cymbals


Callin' one and all
Inviting everyone to come and listen to the music


To the martial swing,
To the military-style rhythm and beat of the song


Strike up the band
Start playing the music and let the performance begin


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


There's a war to be won, to be won
There is a battle that needs to be won


Come, you son of a son of a gun,
Step up and be brave


Take your stand
Stand up for what you believe in


Fall in line, yea a bow
Be organized and ready to follow instructions


Come along, let's go
Let's get moving and start working


Hey, leader, strike up the band!
Leader, start the music and let's begin




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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