Finding the Right Word

       Patriotic songs are not in favor, but if a song was popular in WWI when your father served and also in WWII when your older brother served, almost any random phrase or association with its words can set you off singing, which is the case for me with George M. Cohan's

                    Over there, over there
                    Send the word, send the word over there
                    That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming
                    The drums rum-tumming everywhere.

       As I launched into it today, all I could think of was that 'rum-tumming.'   How did Cohan come up with that?

       "Yes, something to rhyme with 'coming'--'drums,' let s see--uh--'rum-tumming,' that's it, 'everywhere'!"