(Be Sure That Woodrow Wilson Leads the Band)
A popular song from 1915.
Words and music by Coleman Goetz and Jack Stern.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Everybody’s asking when
We will be at peace again
Everybody wants prosperity
I hear many people say
“Lay the sword and gun away”
But still they’re fighting ‘cross the sea
The end must come, it’s true
That’s why I say to you
Chorus
We’re going to celebrate the end of war in ragtime
Every nation soon will sing in rag rhyme
England, France and Germany
Even folks in Italy
The Aristocrats and the Diplomats
Marching arm in arm
See them tip their hats
To a raggy melody (so pretty)
Everywhere there’s harmony
So when we celebrate the end of war in Ragtime
Be sure that Woodrow Wilson leads the band
- Everyone will feel so gay
There’ll be one long holiday
When each nation claims neutrality
There’ll be lots of waving flags
Waving to the raggy rags
Each one will have their liberty
With peace in every land
I trust you’ll understand
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: