Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a sound file of and lyrics for the United States Marine Corps cadence "13 Weeks Of Misery". This post also includes several comments that I found online about the meaning of the word "layo" in military cadences.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
WARNING: The examples of military cadences in this post are "clean" ("family friendly").
However, many other examples of military cadences & many comments about military cadences that are found in the website links given below (particularly in the Wikipedia page on cadences and in many YouTube viewer comment threads), as well as in many other websites/blogs about military cadences often contain profanity, explicit sexual references, excessive violence, and other content which isn't suitable for children.
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OVERVIEW ABOUT "13 WEEKS OF MISERY"
"13 Weeks Of Misery" is a [United States Marine Corps] USMC cadence that is part of the sub-genre of United States drill cadences whose subject is the a person's recruiting & boot camp experience. Although I have found a few other cadences that include lines from "13 Weeks Of Misery"*, I've yet to find any variant examples of that particular cadence. Misery".
If there are fixed words and therefore a fixed length to "13 Weeks Of Misery" [unless that cadence is combined in whole or in part with other cadences], that would distinguish it from all other United States drill cadences that I'm aware of.
By showcasing this particular cadence on pancocojams, which is a blog that focuses on African American & other Black music & dance, I'm not stating or implying that "13 Weeks Of Misery" was composed by someone who is Black. I know nothing about the composer/s of this cadence.
I'm posting "13 Weeks Of Misery" because I like it. I'm also highlighting this cadence because it appears to be quite different from other United States cadences that I've found. What I mean by that is "13 Weeks Of Misery" is a cadence that tells a story which is meant to be given in its entirety. However, other cadences are made up of stringing together two line rhyming lines which aren't necessarily related to each other and which don't necessarily follow each other in sequential order.
Most United States military cadences may be considered part of the African American music in that the modern custom of performing United States military drill cadences began with an African American -Private Willie Duckworth, and all drill cadences have a call & response pattern that is characteristic of many African & African Diaspora music genres. Also, many United States military cadences have African American words, phrases, and/or expressions from vernacular African American English, references to African American folk characters such as "Jodie", and/or "African American" music titles or names of "Black" social dances. For instance, there are numerous versions of the drill cadence "Fired Up Feels Good". And most of those versions that I've come across have multiple African American cultural elements.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/fired-up-feels-good-military-cadence.html for a post about the cadence "Fired Up Feels Good". That post also includes some general information about military cadences. But, in contrast, the USMC cadence "13 Weeks Of Misery" has none of these apparent African American elements except its call & response pattern.
*Some examples of cadences that contain lines from "13 Weeks Of Misery" are found in the Addendum to this post.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO
United States Marine Corps Cadence - 13 Weeks Of Misery!
Dominic DeAngelo,Published on Aug 12, 2012
A Marine Corps Cadence called 13 Weeks Of Misery. I would like to thank all of you brave men and women out there who have or are still currently serving. Thank you and God Bless you and your families. Get home safe!
-snip-
Another video of this same recording is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J09Km2hej5c:
ljoshua88, a commenter from that video's viewer comment thread indicatess that "this is a marching cadence, motivation runs are more fast paced cadence".
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LYRICS- 13 WEEKS OF MISERY
These lyrics are transcribed from subtitles* that are posted in the video that is embedded below.
Each line that the Caller chants is exactly repeated by the unit.
USMC Cadence - 13 Weeks of Misery (W/ Lyrics)
Matthew Runyon, Published on Jan 10, 2013
"Another USMC cadence. Thanks for watching.
*** Fixes courtesy of halomerc5423 ***"
*The “A-low right a-layo”* words were represented by the words “Cadence calling”.
Cadence calling:
A-low right a-layo
A-lefty right a-layo
A-low right a-layo
A-lefty right a-low
A-low right a-layo
A-lefty right a-layo
A-low right a-lefty right
A-lefty right a-low
13 weeks of misery
13 weeks of hell.
I was living in the city,
a working every day.
Until a man in blue,
happened to come my way.
I signed my name upon the dotted line.
Packed all my trash,
got on the plane.
All to serve my time…
Cadence calling
They sent me to an island,
of where they made Marines.
They said “1000 boys may come,
but only men may leave.”
They issued all my gear --
combat boots and skivvy shirts.
In a few short hours,
they had me in the dirt.
My drill instructor,
he trained me rough and hard.
He taught me how to fight;
he taught me how to march.
Cadence calling
In three short months,
as long as it has seemed
I finally had earned,
the title of Marine.
How well do I remember,
my graduation day.
As I left I swore,
I wouldn’t be back this way.
I went to my drill instructors,
and gave to them my hand.
I thanked them for their time.
They made this boy a man.
Cadence calling
I served my time proudly out in the FMF.
But back at Parris Island
There was something I felt I left.
So I’m back a second time.
A smokey in my hand,
training US Marine recruits,
the very best I can.
I found out what I lost,
in the very end --
The making of Marines,
down where it all began.
Cadence calling
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WHAT LAYO MEANS
From http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-96031.html
asherdasher114 05-26-10, 04:33 PM
..."What is a 'layo'? (not sure if that is the correct spelling) Every cadence seems to start with 'left right layo, left right layo, low right layo, lefty right low'. So, I thought I would pose the question to the Marines on this forum... What is a layo? Have cadences always started with this sequence, or did layo form from another word over time?
**
Response from same blog thread:
Rocky C 05-26-10, 05:12 PM
"Got it for you!!!
All Military Steps Either Walking, Marching, Running starts with the left foot.
Example Cadence; Left Right Layo, Lefty Right Layo.
LAYO.
Left
And
Your
Off
There you go........."
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Note that in drill cadences the words “layo” and “low” mean “left [foot]”.
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EXPLANATIONS ABOUT THE USE OF "A" IN MILITARY CADENCES
From http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-10271.html posted by SRT Sniper 07-15-06, 02:19 PM
"The notation "A-" or "a-" denotes the chopped DI sound similar to "uh" making it more of a run-on to the following word, thus the reason for the hyphen."
-snip-
"DI"="Drill instructor"
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ADDENDUM: OTHER CADENCES THAT INCLUDE A LINE FROM "13 WEEKS OF MISERY" [I'm not sure about the titles of these examples.]
Example #1:
Suzy said to me one day long ago.
She said honey please dont join the Corps.
They like to do nothing but fuss n fight.
N they look kinda wierd with those high n tights.
They got bad table manners and they are so crude.
They got a warm sense of humor and their jokes are rude.
I said suzy let me tell ya what ill do.
Ill join the corps just for a year or two.
I packed my trash and I headed to the plane.
I went to the place where they made Marines.
Parris Island was the name of the place.
The first thing I saw was the drill instructors face.
He had razor creases and a smokey bear.
Mountain climbin recruits everywhere.
O yeah
Well suzy said its me or the Corps.
I cant take this life anymore.
I looked at suzy with a big ol' grin
I havnt seen suzy since I dont know when.
-proachbass91, http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-10271.html, 11-12-06, 03:42 PM
**
Example #2:
Oh-yeah
Here we go
I used to sit at home all day,
Letting my life a waste away.
Then one day a man in blue,
Said son I got a job for you,
Theres travel and adventure and loads of fun,
And well even teach you how to shoot a gun.
Theres room and board and a plate of food,
And a brand new tailored business suit.
I used to drive a Bonneville,
Now all I do is run up a hill.
I used to drive a Chevrolet,
Now all I do is sleep in the hay.
I used to drive a Cadillac,
Now all I do is hump a pack.
-Kurby494, http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-10271.html, 06-19-07, 02:42 PM
**
Example #3:
Oh theres a place where Marines are made,
Yellin and a runnin day to day.
Mean DI's makin fighting machines,
They take boys and make them mean.
Get up in the mornin in the drizzle and rain,
Run all day till you feel the pain.
This is the place that God forgot,
Sand is deep and the sun is hot.
It's as fierce as your Drill Instructors face,
Parris Island is the name of this place
I used to sit at home all day,
Letting my life a waste away.
Then one day a man in blue,
Said son I got a job for you,
Theres travel and adventure and loads of fun,
And well even teach you how to shoot a gun.
Theres room and board and a plate of food,
And a brand new tailored business suit.
I used to drive a Bonneville,
Now all I do is run up a hill.
I used to drive a Chevrolet,
Now all I do is sleep in the hay.
I used to drive a Cadillac,
Now all I do is hump a pack.
Suzie said to me one day long ago,
Honey please dont join the Corps.
They like to do nothing but fuss and fight,
They look at women like they're high and tight.
They got poor table manners and they are so crude,
They got a board's sense of humor and they are so rude.
I said Suzie let me tell you what I'll do,
I'll join the Corps just for a year or two.
So I packed my trash and I headed for the plane,
I went to the place where they made Marines.
Oh Yeah
Oh Yeah
Parris Island was the name of the place,
The first thing I saw was a Drill Instructors face.
Oh Yeah
Oh Yeah
Oh Yeah
He had razor creases and a Smoky Bear,
Mountain climbing recruits everywhere
Suzie said it's me or the Corps,
I cant take this life anymore.
I looked at her with a big ol grin,
I haven't seen Suzie since I dont know when.
Oh Yeah
Take it
I got it
-snip-
I'm not sure if these examples pre-date "13 Weeks Of Misery" or were composed after that boot camp story/cadence.
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Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube and those who I quoted in this post. And thanks to the dedicated and motivated members of the United States armed services.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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