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Drummer boys were part of 19th-century military parades and were used as a means of keeping army brigades in time with each other during long marches to fields of battle. It was first collected by Francis O’Neill in Chicago. It’s possible that it may have been an old fife and drum walking march which would often be played to keep morale among fighting men at a sizeable level!
B2 A | GEE BEE | GEE BAG | FDD ADD |
ded AGF | GEE BEE | GEE B2 c | ded AGF |
GEE E2 B || GEE BEE | GEE BAG | FDD ADD |
ded AGF | GEE BEE | GEE B2 c | ded AGF |
GEE E2 A || Bcd e2 e | efe edB | Bcd e2 f |
edB d2 A | Bcd e2 e | efe edB | ded AGF |
GEE E2 A || Bcd e2 e | efe edB | Bcd e2 f |
edB d2 A | Bcd e2 e | efe edB | ded AGF |
GEE E2 F || GEE BEE | GEE BAG | FDD ADD |
ded AGF | GEE BEE | GEE B2 c | ded AGF |
GEE EFA || GEE BEE | GEE BAG | FDD ADD |
ded AGF | GEE BEE | GEE B2 c | ded AGF |
GEE E2 A || Bcd e2 e | efe edB | Bcd e2 f |
edB d2 A | Bcd e2 e | efe edB | ded AGF |
GEE E2 A || Bcd e2 e | efe edB | Bcd efe |
edB d2 A | Bcd e2 e | efe edB | ded AGF |
GEE{/G} E3- | E3 |
