The saying “to beat the band” has become so trite as to be employed for almost any element of amazement or of any superior accomplishment or achievement; as, Well, if that doesn’t beat the band! or, She cooks to beat the band; or, The baby yelled to beat the band.
The expression isn’t very old; at least, no literary record of it has been dug up earlier than fifty years ago, but, probably because of its enticing alliteration, it has acquired great general use in the United States.
Its origin seems to have been literal, a desire to arrive at some spot before a band of musicians leading a parade had passed that spot, thereby enabling one to see the entire parade.
Sometimes one had to whip up one’s horses to get there, or, if a small boy, run on the wings of the wind, but the later pleasure made the haste worth while.
