| James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922. |
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| De Drum Majah |
| | | Ray G. Dandridge |
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| HE’S struttin’ sho ernuff, | |
| Wearin’ a lady’s muff | |
| En’ ways erpon his head, | |
| Red coat ob reddest red, | |
| Purtty white satin ves’, | 5 |
| Gole braid ercross de ches’; | |
| Goa’ness! he cuts a stunt, | |
| Prancin’ out dar in frunt, | |
| Leadin’ his ban’. | |
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| Wen dat ah whistle blows, | 10 |
| Each man behine him knows | |
| ’Zacklee whut he mus’ do; | |
| You bet! he dues it, too. | |
| Wen dat brass stick he twirls, | |
| Ole maids an’ lub-sick gurls | 15 |
| Looks on wid longin’ eyes, | |
| Dey simpley idolize | |
| Dat han’sum man. | |
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| Sweet fife an’ piccalo, | |
| Bofe warblin’ sof’ an’ lo’, | 20 |
| Slide ho’n an’ saxophones, | |
| Jazz syncopated tones, | |
| Snare drum an’ lead cornet, | |
| Alto an’ clarinet, | |
| Las’, but not least, dar cum | 25 |
| Cymbals an’ big bass drum— | |
| O! whut a ban’! | |
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| Cose, we all undahstan’ | |
| Each piece he’ps maik de ban’, | |
| But dey all mus’ be led, | 30 |
| Sum one mus’ be de head | |
| No doubt, de centipede | |
| Has all de laigs he need, | |
| But take erway de head, | |
| Po’ centipede am dead; | 35 |
| So am de ban’. | |
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