I Heard the Marchin' of the Drums

Papa played a swingin' horn, Back once in a dream Left it underneath the bed, Shipped outta New Orleans There's his picture, it was taken before the war, He's singin' from a sheet music score, .".C'mon along, C'mon along, hear the marchin' of the drum" Out in the heat and the bugs, Where the Jungle gave way, Came a whistlin' of bullets, That carved up the middle of the day Papa's eyes is open, but the shutter speed was wrong All the face is blurred in a song, ".C'mon along, C'mon along, hear the marchin' of the drum" I heard the marchin of the drum, An' it pained my heart, Heard the marchin of the drum, When the church doors swung apart The horns was gathered on the church steps, A sound like snakes rose from the clarinets All along, all along, I heard the marchin' of the drum.