Leftist Marching Band – the Pep Band for the Left							   
 The LMB Song Book	

 Tunings are listed immediately after the song title:
 1) C instruments (non –transposing) = flutes, trombones, guitars, tuba
 2) Bb instruments = tenor / soprano sax, clarinet, Bb trumpet, Cornet
 3) Eb instruments = alto / baritone sax, Eb horn 

 America the Beautiful - C D A
  This patriotic standard is played a number of ways – 
  sometimes with an introduction that features the flute section; 
  sometimes with a vocal chorus; sometimes all, and sometimes not.  
  We start it with an up beat jazz hi-hat count off. 
  It is always played up-tempo with a surprise ending – who will play the solo?

 Bella Ciao! - F/Bb G/C D/G
  An Italian protest song from World War II – new to the LMB book… 
  and featuring Ralph on accordion…faster, faster, faster…

 Blue Pepper - Gb Ab Eb
  Our guitar player Tom introduced this Duke Ellington tune to the band 
  (in the key of Gb of all things).  
  It’s a funky, bluesy tune with a memorable theme.  
  Tuba or Bari sax and guitar start us off with a bass riff.  
  Peter on trombone solos during the blues progression.

 Going to Study War No More - G A E
  This traditional spiritual is an LMB standard, in play–sing-play format.
  Sometimes we start with a musical phrase played by trombone and sax; 
  sometimes with a drum intro.

 Hail to the Chief / Imperial March - D/F  E/G  B/D
  This is an LMB original adapted for the 2004 inaugural.  
  It begins with “two stinkin’ notes” (F# and E for c instruments), 
  we play the first eight measures of “Hail,” – 
  hold the last note as Kathy plays a bass rhythm, 
  and then start in with “Imperial March.”
  The final measure includes a Jon Bailey vocal message and shrieks of terror! 

 Happy Days are Here Again - Eb Bb C
  After the 2006 election results, someone requested the tune.  
  The charts came from the Chatfield Music Library– and we play it straight up.
  It has a somber intro, then moves right into the familiar up-tempo melody.

 The Internationale - G A E
  This socialist anthem was originally composed in the 1880s.  
  We have borrowed the chorus from Billy Bragg (with his permission).  
  The song starts with flute and guitar (for 8 measures), we sing the chorus, 
  and then all play the melody with an up-tempo, jazzy feel.

 It’s a Small World - G A E
  It IS a small world, and this song features the LMB dancers!  
  The ‘bones start with a short phrase, answered by the woodwinds.  
  The drums come in strong and on the whistle, we start with the refrain, 
  then play it from the top all the way through.  
  The band does our dance number while the drums keep the rhythm going 
  and we finish with the chorus ending before the refrain.

 Liberty Bell March - F G D
  A Sousa tune with three movements.  
  The song starts with sax and trombone, and then is played A–B–A–B–C.  
  Watch the repeats and key change for the 3rd movement.

 Mahna Mahna - F G D
  Drummer Dave sponsored this song – it’s a 60’s, playful, tune with 
  a number of solos that kind of begin to get a life of their own.  

 Mickey Louse - Bb C G
  Re-lyriced by drummer Kathy with inspiration from the Captain, 
  this is performed in the play–sing–play format.  
  The tune slows down and then blows up at the end. 

 Night Train - C D A
  Another re-lyric-ed LMB favorite—Shoeless often goes wild on the trombone.  
  This is an old R & B number with a great rhythm. 
  Generally we play just the song but sometimes use the play-sing-play format, 
  and keep waiting for someone in the crowd to catch the spirit 
  and go wild with us! 

 Seventy-six Trombones - C D A
  John on sax sponsored this song.  It’s kind of an anthem for marching bands.  
  We play it pretty straight up – try to bring it down during the middle section 
  and slowly build for the final chorus. 

 Stars and Stripes Forever - G A E
  This is one of the original LMB numbers and a crowd favorite.  
  The trombones carry the middle section while the rest do their best to keep up.

 Take Bush Out of the White House - C D A
  One of our strong political adaptations of the popular classic 
  “Take me out to the ballgame”…play-sing-play, and hopefully remember the words.

 This Land is Your Land - F G D
  Woody Guthrie wrote this song originally.  
  We like to think he is smiling down on us as we play this in an LMB-kinda-way.
  Each drummer gets a chance to show their style w/ lots of feeling and hooting!

 Washington Post March - C D A
  Another Sousa tune.  New to the song book.

 We Shall Overcome - C D G
  This classic protest song begins with 
  a call and answer passage between the percussion section.  
  The band joins in and plays the melody three times – 
  first, playing softly; 
  second, with a little harmony and a bit louder; 
  and the third time– after a four measure drum solo- 
  fortissimo and full chords.

 When Johnny Comes Marching Home - Eb F C
  The Civil War tune played in a somber rhythm– 
  drums begin, then our alto instruments and the entire band.  
  There’s an interlude of four measures and we play it twice more before fading out.

 When the Saints Go Marching in - F G D
  A New Orleans tune that we often play marching out– 
  over and over and over and over and over…(when does it end?)

 You’re a Grand Old Flag - F G D
  One of our original tunes, this has become the LMB theme song -- 
  played with passion and in our play-sing-play format.  
  This is often the song we march in on for our gigs.

 Yankee Doodle - Bb C G
  One of the LMB originals.  
  John on sax likes to play Stars and Stripes over the melody – 
  don’t listen to what he is doing!