By a jazz club window a young boy stood one day
To hear the band rehearsing the tunes that they would play
While they wouldn't let him inside cuz there wasn't any room in there
And when asked why he listened he said I'm just wondering where

Where shall I be when that first trumpet sounds
Where shall I be when it sounds so loud
It sounds so loud as to wake up the dead
Oh, where shall I be when it sounds

Maybe I'll be swinging on down that dusty road
Well I'm wondering why bring me such a big .......... oh lord
Nobody seems to bother if I live or if I die
But when that fan starts swinging my soul begins to fly

Where shall I be when that first trumpet sounds
Where shall I be when it sounds so loud
It sounds so loud as to wake up the dead
Oh, where shall I be when it sounds

If I reach a hundred well I won't be satisfied
Until I hear that trumpet swinging only by my side
Well I don't know where I'm heading and the way there isn't very clear
But that happy music is all I wanna hear

Where shall I be when that first trumpet sounds
Where shall I be when it sounds so loud
It sounds so loud as to wake up the dead
Oh, where shall I be when it sounds