In the distance I heard a sound,
The sound of marching men;
I turned my head to view
The drum boy, the bugle boy, and then;

Harlem soldiers on the move,
See them marching in the groove,
Uncle Sam is mighty proud
Of Harlem on parade.

With a smile they all perform
In a full drape uniform;
Everybody's here to cheer
For Harlem on parade.

When you hear the bugle blow,
That's the time you're bound to know
That the man behind the horn
Is as handy with a gun
When there's fighting to be done!

Every heart within the crowd
Beats it out with head unbowed,
Uncle Sam is mighty proud
Of Harlem on parade.

When you hear the bugle blow,
That's the time you're bound to know
That the man behind the horn
Is as handy with a gun
When there's fighting to be done!

Every heart within the crowd
Beats it out with head unbowed,
Uncle Sam is mighty proud
Of Harlem on parade.