Here are things you've heard before
Turned out daily by the score
Pretty rhymes you know
How gently on the ear
They bring a smile or bring a tear
Do re mi fa mi re do
When we go a-marching
Down thro' life and the Street
O loud and free must the music be
With [the] tunes to match the feet
Now a softer cadence
Now we change the key
Just to stage a come-back
To the main strain of our glee
So if you'd go a-marching
To fortune or to Fame
Perhaps the safest way's to play the same old, same old game
Tunes we've often heard before
Snatches of a dozen more
Jingles row on row
When borne upon the ear
They bring a smile or bring a blear
Do re me fa me re do
When we go a-marching
Down the aisle or the Street
O nice and sweet must the music bleat
With [the] time to match the feet
Now a softer cadence
Now we change the key
Just to stage a comeback
To the nice key of our glee
So if you'd go a-marching
To Fortune or to Fame
The safest way's to play the same old, same old game
Hola! Huzza! Je ne sais pas!
Other Charles Ives songs:
all Charles Ives songs all songs from 1922