The Band Played On (1895)

A great waltz song inspired by a German street band.

words by John F. Palmer
music by Charles B. Ward
published by The New York Music Co.

sung by Sheet Music Singer, Fred Feild
piano according to the sheet music
verse = 120 bpm, tempo di marcia
refrain = 180 bpm, tempo di valse

1. Matt Casey formed a social club
That beat the town for style
And hired for a meeting place a hall
When payday came around each week
They greased the floor with wax
And danced with noise and vigor at the ball
Each Saturday you'd see them
Dressed up in Sunday clothes
Each lad would have his sweetheart by his side
When Casey led the first grand march
They all would fall in line
Behind the man who was their joy and pride, for...

Refrain:
Casey would waltz with a strawberry blond
And the band played on
He'd glide cross the floor with the girl he adored
And the band played on
But his brain was so loaded it nearly exploded
The poor girl would shake with alarm
He'd ne'er leave the girl with the strawberry curls
And the band played on

2. Such kissing in the corner
And such whispering in the hall
And telling tales of love behind the stairs
As Casey was the favorite and he that ran the ball
Of kissing and lovemaking did his share
At twelve o'clock exactly they all would fall in line
Then march down to the dining hall and eat
But Casey would not join them
Although everything was fine
But he stayed upstairs and exercise his feet, for...

3. Now when the dance was over
And the band played Home Sweet Home
They played a tune at Casey's own request
He thanked them very kindly
For the favors they had shown
Then he'd waltz once with the girl that he loved best
Most all the friends are married
Yhat Casey used to know
And Casey, too, has taken him a wife
The blond he used to waltz and glide
With on the ballroom floor
Is happy missis Casey now for life, for...

John Palmer was an actor in New York City. One morning he was listening to a German street band playing outside his window. When his sister called him to breakfast, he called back to her dramatically, "One moment! Let the band play on..." He wrote the song but couldn't find a publisher for years. Charles B. Ward was that publisher. He was also a vaudevillian. He made some minor alterations to Palmer's song and took credit as composer.

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Get the sheet music and MIDI at:

[traceydaizy]

It's a shame that lovely songs like this get forgotten

[cmiller]

The chorus makes a little more sense now seeing the verses. It's odd how some of these turn of the 20th century pop songs were performed without their verses years later, "Daisy" being another example. the verses had a separate sound/quality from the refrain that adds a certain something. Thanks man for giving us a good performance.

[kaleidoscope]

I don't think I've heard this before, I found it when looking for trumpet solos. This is wonderful! I love this era's music.

[knoodelhed]

Thanks for finding this, and for performing it as written!

[markwhitmoyer]

This is my favorite 1890's song, ever!

[scheis]

That's the first time I've ever heard all the words to this song. I only knew the chorus. Thanks!

[AHHHHHHHHHHHHl]

I thought this was a song I haven't heard before, then I realised I heard the chorus in Strangers on a Train

[willmcmillan]

Thank you for this recording of the entire song!

[johnk]

Just watched the movie “The Strawberry Blonde” from 1941 with James Cagney, Rita Hayworth and Olivia de Havilland. Charming movie set in the 1890’s. This song figures prominently (obviously) in the movie.

[herbertwilliams]

Looking for And the Band played on., , , what a treasure.

[vitorinopereiradasilva]

I loved this music! It is so romantic! Thanks for this post... and your voice is very beautiful!

[JB-nrfu]

This song has been stuck in my head all day!! I came here to listen 👂 (-:

[hebneh]

Heard several times as a repeating musical motif in the 1950 Alfred Hitchcock film “Strangers On A Train”, in the scenes at the carnival. Most notably it plays in the finale as the merry-go-round goes out of control at high speed.

[sophiebennett]

Finally! I've been looking for something like this for forever! Thank you very much!

[princezzpuffypants]

Wow... so, why did musicians stop singing/playing everything but the chorus? I legit had no clue there was more to this song...

[l.harrisonbrown]

I’ve been singing this song my whole life. I must’ve learned it from my parents. It was not uncommon to hear it on variety shows and records of the 60’s, like that of Skitch Henderson, Mitch Miller and Lawrence Welk. I was always struck by the line “his brain was so loaded it nearly exploded.”

But I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the verses sung in full.

[balapuwadugemendis]

I was fascinated by these songs.Grand Father's clock which my music teacher used to play on the piano many, many moons ago bring back pleasant memories. I throughly enjoyed your work. Superb piano playing.Hats off to you. Keep up the good work. Soothing honey to listening ears.
Dr Chrysantha Mendis from SriLanka

[caroldefender]

Awesome! I love stories (and songs) with happy endings.

[trebcabb]

I think it's high time I waxed and curled my mustachios.

[petertasse]

Fantastic, thanks for posting. so many feelings of emotions... good stuff.