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Beat! beat! drums! Lyrics by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Dona nobis pacem

1936

Beat! beat! drums! - blow! bugles! blow!
Through the windows - through doors - burst like a ruthless force
Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation
Into the school where the scholar is studying;
Leave not the bridegroom quiet - no happiness must he have now with his bride
Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering his grain
So fierce you whirr and pound, you drums - so shrill you bugles blow
Beat! beat! drums! - blow! bugles! blow!
Over the traffic of cities - over the rumble of wheels in the streets;
Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses?
No sleepers must sleep in those beds --
No bargainers bargains by day - no brokers or speculators - would they continue?
Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing?
Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge?
Then rattle quicker, heavier drums -- you bugles wilder blow
Beat! beat! drums! - blow! bugles! blow!
Make no parley - stop for no expostulation
Mind not the timid - mind not the weeper or prayer
Mind not the old man beseeching the young man
Let not the child's voice be heard, nor the mother's entreaties
Make even the trestles to shake the dead where they lie awaiting the hearses
So strong you thump O terrible drums - so loud you bugles blow
Credits
Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams

About “Beat! beat! drums!” by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Read the complete lyrics to "Beat! beat! drums!" by Ralph Vaughan Williams from the album "Dona nobis pacem" in 1936. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Beat! beat! drums!" is performed by Ralph Vaughan Williams. from the album "Dona nobis pacem" in 1936 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Beat! beat! drums!", explore more songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Beat! beat! drums!" is credited to Ralph Vaughan Williams. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Beat! beat! drums!" appears on "Dona nobis pacem" in 1936.

Visit the Ralph Vaughan Williams artist page at /artist/ralph-vaughan-williams for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.