The 24 notes of "Taps" begin with a dotted eighth tied to a sixteenth note. Both notes are B. The call moves to a half note, which is held. The note is C. The first three notes are repeated, but the notes are G, C then E. The E is sustained. The bugler takes a breath then resumes with a tied eighth note. The notes are G, then C. The following quarter note is an E. The three note combination repeats two more times. On the last E, the half note is held. The dotted eighth/sixteenth note resumes on C and moves to E. The following half note is G. The following quarter notes are E and C, leading to a dotted half note of G. The bugler takes another breath and plays the final three notes, a dotted eighth tied to a sixteenth note in B, finishing Taps with a held whole note in C.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,
May the soldier or sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.
Love, good night, Must thou go,
When the day, And the night
Need thee so?
All is well. Speedeth all
To their rest.
Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well; Day has gone,
Night is on.
Thanks and praise, For our days,
'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.
"Taps" is derived from the Dutch word meaning tattoo. Originally the call for "extinguish lights," Taps is an arrangement of the original three drum taps. "Taps" was first played in the summer of 1862 during the Peninsular Campaign during the Civil War. "Taps" became the official call after the end of the Civil War.
Playing "Taps" is not exclusive to the bugle. Musicians playing "Taps" on the trumpet or coronet encounter the same sequence of notes as the bugler. Playing "Taps" on a brass instrument requires the musician to transpose the notes.