Beat the drum with a bearing bold,
And kiss the pretty vivandiere.
A wisdom that's better you'll learn from none,
No book will teach you a truer, I swear.

Beat reveille with all your might,
Waken sleepers to rise with the sun;
Beat rub-a-dub as you march along:
A wisdom that's better you'll learn from none.

Hegel's philosophy's nothing but this;
Because I am wise I have understood;
No book will teach you a truer, I swear;
I know, for, you see, I'm a drummer good.