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"The Band Played On", also known (by its refrain) as "Casey Would Waltz with a Strawberry Blonde", was a popular song written in 1895 with lyrics by John F. Palmer and music by Charles B. Ward (1865–1917).
Unusually, as originally published the verses are in 2/4 time, while the chorus is in 3/4 (waltz) time. The chorus is much better known than the verses to later generations.
The lyrics of the refrain:
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.The song has become a pop standard with many recordings made. One of the first was made by Dan W. Quinn for Berliner Gramophone the same year the number was first published.
The song was later featured in many films, including Raoul Walsh's The Strawberry Blonde (1941), the title of which was inspired by the lyrics, and Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951).
Cover versions
Other musicians who have recorded "And the Band Played On" include:
One of the most famous recordings, by Guy Lombardo's orchestra, was made on February 26, 1941 and issued by Decca Records as catalog number 3675 (reissued as number 25341). It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on May 9, 1941 and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #6.
The Guy Lombardo version included only the famous chorus, omitting the 2/4-time verses. The numerous other recordings of the number include Alvin and the Chipmunks version in the 1962 album The Chipmunk Songbook.