And Still The Band Played

The pic’ lo picced his lo’ est note,

     The clar’ net couldn’t reed.

The flute flue off a fluted tone,

     And then got all unkeyed.

The cornets said tho’ we B. flat,

     In this we cornet fail;

The altos alto’ gether flew,

     But alto no avail.

The trombone tenor more times tried,

     And then his slide slid out;

He said he couldn’t bearitone,

     And was compelled to g’ out.

The basses pom-elled fierce and strong,

     And to base words gave vent;

“I’ll raise all helicon,” said one,

     And tuba tu they went.

The side drum tapped the bass drum big,

     They beat each other’s head;

And when they stopped the cymbal boy

     To Cymbeline had fled.

The leader leads a peaceful life,

     And leads a pieceful band;

And why they play dis-cord or dat,

     The town can’t understand.

March 23, ‘94

Pub. B. Courier,

May 12, 1895