Step forward two brothers, in tunics of red,
Polished buttons and boots, postman’s caps on their heads;
Hard as nails, from the coalfields they came,
Colliery bandsmen, George and Joe Mains.

Now step forward two soldiers, these khaki-clad sons,
Wielding Durham Light Infantry tin hats and guns;
Their music proved stronger than bullets or waves,
As they played their hearts out while an army was saved.

So strike up the band, let the D.L.I. play,
The euphonium and cornet will each have their day;
They’re shelling the beaches, while the boats fight the spray,
And the band plays on, until the last boat sails away.

George was proud of the medals he wore,
In the street, in the pub, he would fist to the floor,
Any man daring to mock the vain ways
Of this bold as brass bandsmen, fearless and brave.

The Shakespeare’s finest, bandleader Joe,
When his cornet blew all of Brandon would know;
On the beach at Dunkirk it blew loud and shrill,
That I bet back at home they could hear it still.

So strike up the band, let the D.L.I. play,
The euphonium and cornet will each have their day,
They’re shelling the beaches, while the boats fight the spray,
Yet the band plays on, until the last boat sails away.

And step forward two fathers, back home from the War,
Neither one spoke of the horrors they saw,
As back to the coalfields they carried their fame,
In two instrument cases, battered and stained.

Now they’ve passed from this world and each note that they played
On euphonium and cornet has faded away;
But the trumpets of Heaven resound to their name,
Where the band plays on.

The band struck up, the rearguard played,
The euphonium and cornet each had their day;
When the beaches were shelled, when the boats fought the spray,
Yet the band played on, until the last boat sailed away.

Now step forward great-nephews, these two brothers too,
Like their forebears, their music rings clear and true;
They’re telling their stories, singing their songs,
Ensuring the family tradition lives on.

So strike up the band, let the instruments play,
The guitar and accordion are now having their say;
Until the next generation grasps the baton one day,
Let the band play on, until the last note fades away.

(Gary Miller)