The Ragtime Volunteers Are Off To War 1917

Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK - 27 Feb 2003

All the gals have got the blues
since they heard the latest news
that the ragtime volunteers
who haven't fought in nearly twenty years
will march away
and leave their folks in tears.
They're gonna leave today
that's what the papers say
here comes the band,
come take your stand
and watch them march away:

Just see those ragtime soldiers
left, right, left, right,
Knapsacks upon their shoulders
Left, right, left, right,
just watch that leader man
control that 'Jazbo' band
ain't that some demonstration?
Oh! what syncopation!
Old Colonel Jones looks like a
pouter pigeon
as they go swinging by his door,
each high brown turtle dove says:
"Farewell, my Lady love,"
the ragtime volunteers are off to war.

Just see those ragtime soldiers
left, right, left, right,
Knapsacks upon their shoulders
Left, right, left, right,
just watch that leader man
control that 'Jazbo' band
ain't that some demonstration?
Oh! what syncopation!
Old Colonel Jones looks like a
pouter pigeon
as they go swinging by his door,
each high brown turtle dove says:
"Farewell, my Lady love,"
the ragtime volunteers are off to war.

See them coming down the street
watch those darkies lift their feet
to the music of that band
those melodies they play are simply grand
they take you back
to dear old Dixieland.
That drummer's full of 'Pep'
he has a worldwide 'Rep'
He's ragging some upon his drum
to keep the boys in step:

Just see those ragtime soldiers
left, right, left, right,
Knapsacks upon their shoulders
Left, right, left, right,
just watch that leader man
control that 'Jazbo' band
ain't that some demonstration?
Oh! what syncopation!
Old Colonel Jones looks like a
pouter pigeon
as they go swinging by his door,
each high brown turtle dove says:
"Farewell, my Lady love,"
the ragtime volunteers are off to war.

Just see those ragtime soldiers
left, right, left, right,
Knapsacks upon their shoulders
Left, right, left, right,
just watch that leader man
control that 'Jazbo' band
ain't that some demonstration?
Oh! what syncopation!
Old Colonel Jones looks like a
pouter pigeon
as they go swinging by his door,
each high brown turtle dove says:
"Farewell, my Lady love,"
the ragtime volunteers are off to war.

Soft karaoke
Words
treble clef 1
treble clef 2
lyric line
bass
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The Ragtime Volunteers Are Off To War 1917
Music by James F. Hanley
Lyrics by Ballard MacDonald
copyright MCMXVII by Shapiro, Bernstein and Co.Inc N.Y.
sequence and karaoke by Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK
on Thursday 27 February 2003 at 18.28
in association with Doug Grierson
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Successfuly introduced by Emma Carus
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