Beat on the drum and blow the fife,
And kiss the vivandiere, my boy.
Fear nothingthat's the whole of life;
Its deepest truth, its soundest joy.
Beat reveille, and with a blast
Arouse all men to valiant strife.
Waken the world; and then, at last,
March on.... That is the whole of life.
This is Philosophy; this is Truth;
This is the burning source of joy!
I've borne this wisdom from my youth,
For I, too, was a drummer-boy.
