I LOVE A PARADE

Make me the leader

of a brass band

with trumpets blaring

and drums.

Dress me up with

gold-braided red

with high-buttoned

white leather boots.

Give me a hat

with ebony strap,

a visor and

fluffed golden plume;

a-tilt a-snap

a-back'n'forth-cant

a-swish'n'a-swish'n'a-sway.

Now add a whistle

and silver baton

and teach me the

tones of a tune.

First come the trumpets,

add in the tubas,

the fifes and the saxes and drums.

Fire the cannon, bang the bass drum--

now everyone loud as can be.

Look at the drummer,

notice the brass,

but most of all

eyes to the front;

a-puff a-puff

I lead the parade.

Don't ever let me grow old.