Hear that music playing, listen to what it's saying

Throughout the years I've made a lot of friends

Many became famous, most of them go nameless

But I dedicate this song to all of them

I've sung with the best and I've had it all

I've gone from neighborhood saloons to Carnegie Hall

I've been down and out and I've been in demand

But I wouldn't have made it without them, here's to the band!



Those magical notes, those musical pearls

I've sung with all the Counts, the Dukes, the Kings, and the Earls

And the experience, I have to say, was grand

But I wouldn't have made it without them, here's to the band!





Strings soaring, horns boring

Drums pounding in my ear



To start at the ground and reach for the top

To have such a wonderful career, I just gotta stop

Stop and turn around to thank everyone that sits on the stand

`cause I wouldn't have made it without them, here's to the band!







Here's to those ladies and the gentlemen

Here's to the AF of M

I wouldn't have made it without them, here's to the band!

Here's to the band!





NOTE: "AF of M" is a musician's union, the American Federation of Musicians