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Seventy six trombones led the big parade |
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With a hundred and ten cornets close at hand. |
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They were followed by rows and rows of the finest virtuosos, |
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The cream of ev'ry famous band. |
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Seventy six trombones caught the morning sun, |
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With a hundred and ten cornets right behind. |
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There were more than a thousand reeds springing up like weeds, |
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There were horns of ev'ry shape and kind. |
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There were copper bottom tympani in horse platoons, |
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Thundering, thundering, all along the way. |
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Double bell euphoniums and big bassoons, |
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Each bassoon having his big fat say. |
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There were fifty mounted cannon in the battery, |
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Thundering, thundering, louder than before. |
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Clarinets of eve'ry size and trumpeters who'd improvise |
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A full octave higher than the score. |
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Seventy six trombones led the big parade, |
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When the order to march rang out loud and clear. |
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Starting off with a big bang bong on a Chinese gong, |
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By a big bang bonger at the rear. |
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Seventy six trombones hit the counter point, |
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While a hundred and ten cornets played the air. |
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Then I modestly took my place as the one and only bass, |
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And I oompahed up and down the square. |