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Paul Laurence Dunbar - The Colored Band
Work rating: Low

W`EN de colo`ed ban` comes ma`chin` down de street,
Don`t you people stan` daih starin`; lif` yo` feet!
Ain`t dey playin`? Hip, hooray!
Stir yo` stumps an` cleah de way,
Fu` de music dat dey mekin` can`t be beat.
Oh, de major man`s a-swingin` of his stick,
An` de pickaninnies crowdin` roun` him thick;
In his go`geous uniform,
He`s de lightnin` of de sto`m,
An` de little clouds erroun` look mighty slick.
You kin hyeah a fine perfo`mance w`en de white ban`s serenade,
An` dey play dey high-toned music mighty sweet,
But hit`s Sousa played in rag-time, an` hit`s Rastus`on Parade,
W`en de colo`ed ban` comes ma`chin` down de street.
W`en de colo`ed ban` comes ma`chin` down de street
You kin hyeah de ladies all erroun` repeat:
"Ain`t dey handsome? Ain`t dey gran`?
Ain`t dey splendid? Goodness, lan`!
W`y dey`s pu`fect f`om dey fo`heads to dey feet!"
An` sich steppin` to de music down de line,
`T ain`t de music by itself dat meks it fine,
Hit`s de walkin`, step by step,
An` de keepin` time wid "Hep,"
Dat it mek a common ditty soun` divine.
Oh, de white ban` play hits music, an` hit`s mighty good to hyeah,
An` it sometimes leaves a ticklin` in yo` feet;
But de hea`t goes into bus`ness fu` to he`p erlong de eah,
W`en de colo`ed ban` goes marchin` down de street.
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