From the 1899 comic opera “The Ameer.”
Words by Frederic Ranken.
Music by Victor Herbert.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Soldiers all, duty’s call
Sends us forth to meet the foeman
All we crave, soldiers grave
Timid fear have we of no man
With a boom, boom, boom
And a zoom, zoom, zoom
Rat-a-plan, rat-a-plan, rat-a-plan
Rat-a-plan, rat-a-plan
Forward we go forth to meet the foe
Loud let the bugle blow
Its bold ta-ta-ran ta-ta-ta
Forward the cry, let our banners fly
So forward we to victory at duty’s calling
A soldier need no truer friend
Than by his side is hanging
A trusty sword its aid to lend
While sounding, sounding steel is clanging
A blade to wield on tented field
Its temper often trying
A lunge, then carry, a thrust, then parry
On skillful wrist relying
A lunge, then carry, a thrust, then parry
On skillful wrist relying
Forward we go forth to meet the foe
Loud let the bugle blow
Its bold ta-ta-ran ta-ta-ta
Forward the cry, let our banners fly
So forward we to victory at duty’s calling
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Sung here by Vancha March: