I'm Happy When The Band Plays Dixie
Composer(s): Earl J. Benham; William J. Vanderveer



Have you ever felt a strange sensation 
When the band begins to play
Have you noticed how you'll march along
And follow the band all day
Like a soldier boy you're sure to fall in line to hear the music sweet
Troubles you forget now you're marching yet oh it surely is a treat
When they play, "My country tis of thee" 
every body cheers the good old band
But there's one more tune they'll play it soon 
it's a song of dear Dixie land

Thro' dear Dixie old 
Hi Henry with his minstrel show was booked to play
With his singers grand and one fine band
in town he stayed just one day
On the billboard fence he advertised 
that thro' the streets they would parade
To be water boy was my greatest joy 
to the opera house I made
There they dressed me up as Uncle Sam 
and handed me the flag to wave
Dixie they played loud to please the crowd 
then for dear Dixie land we raved

I'm happy when the band plays Dixie
It's the land that I love so dear
Where the sweet magnolias rare
Scent that good old southern air 
Now for dear Dixie I will cheer
Sweet strains of that old grand song Dixie
Bring back thoughts of my childhood days
I wish I was in Dixie, I do, I do 
I'm happy when the band plays Dixie