| Composer | George Gershwin |
| Lyricist | Ira Gershwin |
| Year Written | 1927 |
About This Song
“Strike Up The Band was written, for the 1927 musical Strike Up The Band, a satire on war and militaristic music. In 1936, UCLA looking for a new rally song. The Gershwin brothers gifted the song to the university and Ira Gershwin wrote new lyrics.
View lyrics
Hear the cymbals ring
Callin’ one and all
To the martial swing,
Strike up the band
There is work to be done, to be done
There’s a war to be won, to be won
Come, you son of a son of a gun,
Take your stand
Fall in line, yea a bow
Come along, let’s go
Hey, leader, strike up the band!
There is work to be done, to be done
There’s a war to be won, to be won
Come, you son of a son of a gun,
Take your stand
Fall in line, yea a bow
Come on, let’s go
Hey, leader, strike up
Hey, leader, strike up
Hey, leader, strike up the band
Recordings
1959
Tony Bennett recorded “Strike Up The Band” on January 5, 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.
13480
Release History
| 1959 | Emus Records LP 12″: ES-12026 — Strike Up The Band |
| 1961 | Roulette LP 12″: R/SR-25072 — Basie Swings, Bennett Sings |
| 1961 | Roulette LP 12″: SR 25231 — Bennett & Basie – Strike Up The Band |
| 1963 | Roulette LP 12″: R/SR-25231 — Strike Up the Band |
| 1969 | Saga Eros LP 12″: EROS 8076 — Tony Bennett and Count Basie |
| 1981 | Reactivation LP 12″: JR 149 — Bennett & Basie [UK] |
| 1987 | Roulette CD: RCD 59021 — Strike Up the Band |
| 1990 | Roulette Jazz CD: CDP 7 93899 2 — Basie/Bennett |
| 1990 | Roulette CD: B2-93899 — Basie Swings, Bennett Sings |
| 1992 | Capitol CD: C2-96792 — Capitol Sings George Gershwin: Fascinatin’ Rhythm |
| 1992 | Capitol CD: 96792 — Capitol Sings George Gershwin: Fascinatin’ Rhythm |
| 1996 | Alliance CD: 96792 — Capitol Sings George Gershwin: Fascinatin’ Rhythm |
| 2008 | Jasmine CD: JASCD482 — Together At Last/A Perfect Combination |
| 2011 | Columbia: The Complete Co’llection — Disc 13 — Basie Sings/Bennett Sings |