1961
Drums of Tragedy
Composed by 
H. Leslie Adams
H. Leslie Adams Text by 
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes Nightsongs Song Collection
"Drums of Tragedy" is the second song of H. Leslie Adams' song cycle Nightsongs: Six Afro-American Songs.
Text
Drums of Tragedy
by Langston Hughes
Beat the drums of tragedy for me.
Beat the drums of tragedy and death.
And let the choir sing a stormy song
To drown out the rattle of my dying breath.
Beat the drums of tragedy for me.
And let the white violins whir thin and slow,
But blow one blaring trumpet note of sun
To go with me to the darkness where I go.
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