# First reaction: "The band played on." **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505 "2016-10-23T18:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/1 "2016-10-23T18:39:27Z")
1 - Song 2 - Sequel to “The Boys in the Band” 3 - Whatchoo talkin’ about, **dropzone**? Don’t know how to create a poll and uninterested in learning how. Somebody punned off it in the Pit and I surprised myself by going with 2. More or less straight, but the original movie was where I stole, “Who do I have to fuck to get a drink here,” which I never said at a company party. Surprising because I’m steeped in the 19th century, so my default should be the song. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/2 "2016-10-23T18:47:01Z")
“…He’d glide cross the floor with the girl he adored, And the band played on…” Hope that answers the question. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/3 "2016-10-23T18:47:37Z")
The Randy Shilts book about the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Also, the Pogues’ version of “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” but that’s a jump. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/4 "2016-10-23T18:48:59Z")
I think of the song. And I only think of the ice cream truck electric chime version which that truck used to play at ear shivering levels as the truck rattled past my house. I don’t hear ice cream trucks anymore. Damn shame. Kids aren’t outside to run after them anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/5 "2016-10-23T18:53:25Z")
Came back to say that my second thought was the Randy Shilts book mentioned above. Took me a couple of minutes to remember that was the title. Did not know there was a movie by that name. We still have ice cream trucks here, though the volume is not as loud as it used to be. Or maybe I’m just getting old. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/6 "2016-10-23T19:27:27Z")
None of the above: my first reaction is that scene from _Titanic_. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/7 "2016-10-23T19:32:32Z")
AIDS epidemic documentary. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/8 "2016-10-23T19:48:53Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > “…He’d glide cross the floor with the girl he adored, > And the band played on…” Second reaction after [“Ball of Confusion.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmRsWdK0PRI) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/9 "2016-10-23T19:51:40Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Did not know there was a movie by that name. There isn’t. Just his first. I’ve mentioned this before, but my daughter asked the dumbest question ever, “I know gay guys older than you and younger than you, but why don’t I know any your age. Why?” “Guess.” It took her a moment. “Oh.” ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/10 "2016-10-23T20:53:27Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > None of the above: my first reaction is that scene from _Titanic_. Historical, too. They played “Closer to thee, my God”. Empty futile fucking gesture if there ever was any. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/11 "2016-10-23T21:00:42Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > The Randy Shilts book about the early days of the AIDS epidemic. This. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/12 "2016-10-23T21:16:17Z")
The [movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106273/combined) of the book of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/13 "2016-10-23T21:18:28Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > There isn’t. Just his first. > > … Wait, you mentioned a movie in the OP. “The original movie…” Who is “his”? And what do you mean “just his first”? Ulf the Uncertain ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/14 "2016-10-23T21:31:14Z")
I immediately think of Casey Would Waltz with the Strawberry Blonde. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/15 "2016-10-23T21:50:19Z")
I immediately thought of the Randy Shilts book while humming “Casey would waltz…” > [@](#): > > Wait, you mentioned a movie in the OP. “The original movie…” Presumably the original movie “The Boys in the Band”, which is referenced in the OP’s item #2. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/16 "2016-10-23T21:55:31Z")
The song – [by Saxon, that is.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5gMdF3dzlc) ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/17 "2016-10-23T22:06:17Z")
“Ball of Confusion” first and then the Randy Shilts book ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/18 "2016-10-24T00:29:12Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > The Randy Shilts book about the early days of the AIDS epidemic. […] That’s my answer. Very good book. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/19 "2016-10-24T00:43:25Z")
It’s the song the Merry-Go-Round plays in _Strangers on a Train._ Miriam and the two men she goes to the carnival with sing aloud to it. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505/20 "2016-10-24T01:38:23Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > I immediately think of Casey Would Waltz with the Strawberry Blonde. same here [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-reaction-the-band-played-on/769505.md?page=2)