The Country Band - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
THE COUNTRY BAND. Copyright, 1891, by Hubbard T. Smith. 
In a little town out West, where I lived when but a boy, They had a "silver comet" band which was my pride and Joy; And many were the times when I played "hookie" all the day, To follow up some street parade and hear that old band play. The "tuba" was a butcher's boy, the "cymbals" Irish Dan, The "alto" was the village swell, the "snare" our hired man; The baker beat the "big bass drum," and father used to say The "cornet" was a sporting man, but, Lordy! he could play. Tarantarah! Zing! boom! Tarantarah! Zing! boom! And we knew the band was coming down the street; Tarantarah! Zing! boom! Tarantarah! Zing! boom! The martial music ringing out so clear and sweet. See them coming down the street in their uniforms so neat, Children come with flying feet to hear the ranta, ranta, ranta, rantarah! Zing! boom! Zing! oh, how the cymbals play! Hear, now, the tuba's bray! And the echo miles away Take up the rantaran, tarantarah! Zing! booml 
Now my youthful days are gone and I've reached the prime of life, And oft I sigh for those dear times so free from care and strife. When, heedless of the thrashings that I always had to stand, I'd truant play from school to hear that dear old country band. And tho' I've traveled quite a bit in this and foreign lands. And heard the clashing cymbals and the "toot" of famous bands; Vet always when I'm list'ning to their "rantaran-taray " I wish I had that country band to show them how to play. Tarantarah! Zing! boom! etc.