BAND PLAYED ON, THE
(Charles B. Ward / John F. Palmer)


Dan W. Quinn - 1895
Alice Faye (feat. in the film "Lillian Russell") - 1940
Guy Lombardo & His Orch. (vocal: Kenny Gardner & The Leonard Trio) - 1941
The Jesters - 1941
Mitchell Ayres & His Fashions-In-Music (vocals: Mary Ann Mercer & Tommy Taylor) - 1941
The Melody Makers (feat. in the short film "Let's Sing An Old Time Song") - 1947
Merv Griffin (feat. in the film "Cattle Town") - 1952
Captain Gleason's Garden Band - 1954
Rikki Henderson - 1961
Alvin & The Chipmunks - 1962
Bing Crosby - 1962

Also recorded by: 
Danny Barrett; Ray Bloch, His Orch. & Chorus; June Smith; The Cricketones; 
Christine Collister & Richard Thompson ............. and others. 



Matt Casey formed a social club 
That beat the town for style
And hired for a meeting place a hall
When payday came around each week 
They'd grease the floor with wax
And dance with noise and vigour at the ball
Each Saturday you'd see them 
Dressed up in Sunday clothes
Each lad would have his sweetheart by his side
When Casey led the first grand march 
They all would fall in line
Behind the man who was their joy and pride
For.....

Casey would waltz with a strawberry blonde
And the Band played on
He'd glide cross the floor with the girl he adored
And the Band played on
But his brain was so loaded it nearly exploded
The poor girl would shake with alarm
He'd ne'er leave the girl with the strawberry curls
And the Band played on

Such kissing in the corner 
And such whisp'ring in the hall
And telling tales of love behind the stairs
As Casey was the favourite 
And he that ran the ball
Of kissing and lovemaking did his share
At twelve o'clock exactly 
They all would fall in line
Then march down to the dining hall and eat
But Casey would not join them 
Although ev'rything was fine
But he stayed upstairs and exercised his feet
For.....

Casey would waltz with a strawberry blonde
And the Band played on
He'd glide cross the floor with the girl he adored
And the Band played on
But his brain was so loaded it nearly exploded
The poor girl would shake with alarm
He'd ne'er leave the girl with the strawberry curls
And the Band played on

Now when the dance was over 
And the band played home sweet home
They played a tune at Casey's own request
He thanked them very kindly 
For the favours they had shown
Then he'd waltz once with the girl that he loved best
Most all the friends are married 
That Casey used to know
And Casey too has taken him a wife
The blond he used to waltz and glide with 
On the ballroom floor
Is happy Missus Casey now for life
For.....

Casey would waltz with a strawberry blonde
And the Band played on
He'd glide cross the floor with the girl he adored
And the Band played on
But his brain was so loaded it nearly exploded
The poor girl would shake with alarm
He'd ne'er leave the girl with the strawberry curls
And the Band played on


(Contributed by Bill Huntley - December 2004)
(Updated by Mel Priddle - January 2014)