Oh, There’s A Drum

Oh, there’s a drum, drum, drum that beats
In flesh and blood and mind;
A sullen drum, an angry drum,
That beats all fears behind.

It can’t be stilled, it will not fade,
It’s throbbing hard and fast,
And to the forefront, unafraid,
We give it voice at last:

“I breathe, I stand, for me alone,
I’m not a pawn of kings;
The common good is not my home,
I give it not my things.

“My life is mine, it’s up to me,
And none may take away;
The selfish right of sovereignty
Is life-light of my day!

So, back, you tyrants, fall on back!
Get down where you belong!
This speaking drum will never slack,
Each word is now a song!

“It’s I, I, I, and again!
It’s I into the fight!
It’s I, I, I for the men
Who love their human right!

It’s break, break, break, and again!
The breaking chains will fly!
It’s live, live, live for the men
Who won’t let freedom die!

Oh, there’s a drum, drum, drum that beats,
And does not fade or slow;
It beats the beat of men complete
Who make their vision grow.

It can’t be muffled up with scorn,
It echoes ear to ear.
The voice of Reason, it’s re-born;
Oh listen! You can hear,

“Come forth and march, you men of worth,
You’re not a slave of Need;
You are your master on the earth,
For selfish life decreed!

“Then come, come all, come try your lips
And sing this song so new;
It’s time at last to make that trip
For what life means to you!”

Now back! you tyrants, slink on back!
Get down where you belong!
The reas’ning soul will never slack,
It bursts again in song!

“It’s I, I, I, and again!
It’s I into the fight!
It’s I, I, I for the men
Who love their human right!

“It’s break, break, break, and again!
The breaking chains will fly!
It’s live, live, live for the men
Who won’t let freedom die!

Oh, there’s a drum, drum, drum that beats
In flesh and blood and mind;
A sullen drum, an angry drum,
That booms all fears behind!.