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

And 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