This pancocojams post provides comments about the meaning/s of the colloquial American English phrase "pick up the step" (or "pick up your steps") that is found in a number of military cadences. Several examples of these military cadences are included in this post.
The Addendum to this post provides an example of a children's camp song that includes a folk processed form of that "pick up the step" phrase.
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The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the composers of these cadences and this song. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
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Portions of this post are included in this 2015 and 2018 pancocojams posts:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/versions-of-three-military-cadences.html "Versions Of Three Military Cadences About "Jody": "Ain’t No Sense In Goin Home", "Jody Boy", & "Jody's Got Your Cadillac"
and
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/baltimore-club-song-hey-you.html for the pancocojams post "Baltimore Club Song - "Hey You Knuckleheads" And Pittsburgh Camp Song "All You Knuckleheads".
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WHAT DOES THE PHRASE "PICK UP THE STEP" MEAN IN MILITARY CADENCES?
I've found two possible meanings online for the colloquial English phrase: "Pick Up the step":
1. increase the speed
2. move with the same speed, but more vigorously (i.e. with more energy, perhaps by stomping down harder and/or raising your leg up higher while you are marching. In that sense, "Pick up the step" could be synonymous with "pick up your feet".
Another possibly synonymous colloquial phrase for "pick up the step" is to "put pep in your step". Here's an excerpt of an article about the word "pep":
From https://wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/put-pep-in-your-step/ Put Pep in your Step
July 29, 2014 by wordfoolery
"Hello.
This week’s word is pep. Pep can be used as a noun or a verb. You can have pep in your step if you’re walking in a lively fashion and in that sense it’s another word for energy. You can pep someone’s spirits to transfer that vigor to them. It’s a short bouncy word which sounds full of speed and invention.
But where does pep come from? It sounds like hepcat jivetalk slang or a shortening of a soft drink name from the US.
Merriam Webster reckons it dates from 1912 but gives no further information. The Online Etymology Dictionary (an excellent resource) adds that pep is a shortened form of pepper (yes, the spice) which was used as a term for energy from as early as 1847. But if you look in the dictionary now you won’t find that meaning for pepper. So pep took over from pepper for that usage at some point.
Other uses for pep include pep rally (from 1945) and pep talk (from 1926). I’ve always wondered what a pep rally is but wikipedia informs me this is because they exist mostly in North America – basically they’re a meeting of students before a big game to get them cheering for their home team. There could be music, games, and lots of noise I suspect.
As for pep talk, well if your boss gives you one of those you’re meant to come out of it filled with “can do” pep and energy so that makes sense."...
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Notice that in sound files of military cadences that include this phrase the tempo (pace) of the cadence doesn't change when the caller and group chant this phrase.
Here's an excerpt of a discussion about the "pick up the step" phrase from an online semantics forum:
From https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/36822/pick-up-ones-step?rq=1
"I have a question about this: [The word "this" is hyperlinked to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_cadence]
It was not long before the infectious rhythm was spreading throughout the ranks. Footweary soldiers started to pick up their step in cadence with the growing chorus of hearty male voices. Instead of a down trodden, fatigued company, here marched 200 soldiers with heads up, a spring to their step, and happy smiles on their faces. This transformation occurred with the beginning of the Duckworth Chant.
What is "pick up their step"? Dictionaries don't seem to cover this usage. Could it be military lingo?
Edited Nathan Tuggy Jan 24 '17 at 22:05
asked: meatie Oct 16 '14 at 3:37
[...]
Try looking up the phrasal verb pick up meaning to increase speed or activity – Jim Oct 16 '14 at 3:48
The phrase here is very much like 5c "pick up the pace". (Make sure you scroll down to the "pick up [phrasal verb]" section.) – snailboat♦ Oct 16 '14 at 3:52
Its more of an idiomatic expression that describes the soldiers speeding up or making a greater effort to march. But snailboat is pushing you in the right direction. – Tushar Oct 16 '14 at 4:26
To me, looks like it's about pacing in harmony not about picking up the pace. FYI, I'm not a native speaker of English. – learner Oct 16 '14 at 8:55
To "pick up" is an English idiom meaning "to hurry" or "to increase speed."
Soldiers are often told to "pick it up!" by their commanders when they're not moving fast enough, an object which is accelerating is often said to be "picking up speed," and "pick up the pace" is a common phrase to urge someone to act more rapidly."...
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EXAMPLES OF MILITARY CADENCES THAT INCLUDE THE PHRASE "PICK UP THE STEP"
These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. The first line in each transcription that includes the phrase "pick up the step" is given in italics to highlight it.
Example #1: Jody Boy
U.S. Army Airborne - Topic, Published on Sep 12, 2015
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Jody Boy · The U.S. Army Airborne
Exercise to the Marching Cadences U.S. Military
-snip-
LYRICS: JODY BOY (for this version of that cadence)
[The troops repeat each line after the leader chants it.]
Oh-oh Jodie Boy,
Rough, Tough Jodie Boy.
Jodie Boy’s a real cool cat,
Wears a camo* hat
Oh-oh Jodie boy,
Rough, Tough Jodie boy.
If ole Jodie’s 5′ 4,
I’ll be grabbin a 2-by-4.
Oh-oh Jodie Boy
Rough, Tough Jodie Boy.
If ole Jodie’s 6′ 4,
I’ll be packing my .44
If ole Jody’s 7’4
I won’t be messin with him at all
Your left, your left
Your left , righta left
Your military left
Your left, your right now pick up the step
Your left your right your le--eh -eft
-snip-
{Your left your right now pick up the step is at 1:20 to the end of this sound file.
* "Camo" probably means "camouflage".
I'm not sure if this transcription is correct. Corrections are welcome.
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Example #2:
From https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=10803
"Subject: RE: Cadence or Marching Songs
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 11:05 PM
Left left left right
(airborne)
left left left right
*airborne)
1 2 3 4
(oo ah airborne)
Your left your left
your left right left
your military left
your ledt your right now pick up the step your left your right your left"
-snip-
"ledt" is probably a typo for "left".
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Example #3:
From https://www.military-quotes.com/forum/help-im-brand-new-1sgt-t22170.html
September 23rd, 2006; XxAdriesseNHARNG892xX
"Hey Ho Captain Jack
Meet me by the railroad track
with my rifle in my hand
im gona be a shooting man
your left your left
your military left
your left your right now pick up the step your left your right your left
your left your right now pick up the step your left your right your left
he ho captain jack
meet me by the railroad track
with my k-bar in my hand
im gonna be a stabbin man
your left your left
your military left
your left your right now pickup the step your left your right your left
your left your right now pick up the step your left your right your left
he ho captain jack
meet me by the railroad track
with my pillow in my hand
im gonna be a sleeping man
left your left
your military left
your left your right now pickup the step your left your right your left
your left your right now pickup the step your left your right your left
hey ho captain jack
meet me by the railroad track
with my boosk in my hand
im gonna be a rotc man
your left your left
your military left
your left your right now pickup the step your left your right your left
our left your right now pickup the step your left your right your left"
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bb_w7nOBwg for a video of a House music version of this military cadence by the German pop group Captain Jack. The phrase "pick up the steps" first occurs at 1:20 in this song.
The music group "Captain Jack"'s version of "Captain Jack" has been featured on several video games. Warning: The lyrics to that version of "Captain Jack" includes one example of profanity and some scenes of scantily clad women.
According to a commenter in that video's discussion thread "Franky Gee (the soldier dude) died back in 2005 at the age of 43 after a cerebral haemorrhage.
He enlisted in the US army and was stationed in Germany where he began DJing and decided to stay there once his enlistment expired.
At some point in 1995 he became the frontman for this German europop band, Captain Jack."
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Example #4:
From http://web.usf.edu/airforce/files/Det%20158%20Jody%20Book%20for%20FT.pdf
Air Force ROTC
Detachment 158
Jody Book
First Edition, Spring 2008
"HI HO DIDDLY BOP (Quick Time)
CHORUS (Between all verses)
Your left, your left, your left, right, left, your military left.
Your left, your right, now pick up the step, your left, your right, your left.
Hi, ho Diddly Bop
I’m glad I’m not back on the block
With my suitcase in my hand
Looking for a helping hand,
A helping hand.
Hi, ho Diddly Bop
I’m glad I’m not back on the block
With an empty wallet in my hand.
I don’t want to be an unemployed man,
Unemployed man.
Hi, ho Diddly Bop
I’m glad I’m not back on the block
With my beer in my hand,
Wishing I was an Air Force man,
An Air Force man.
-snip-
This example was reformatted for this blog post.
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Example #5:
From http://www.army-cadence.com/navy-marching-cadences/
Hey Navy (Navy Marching Cadence)
"HEY ARMY
BACKPACKIN ARMY
PICK UP YOUR PACKS AND FOLLOW ME
WE ARE THE US NAVY!
HEY MARINE CORP!
BULLET SPONGEBOB MARINE CORP
PICK UP YOUR STEPS AND COME WITH ME
WE ARE THE US NAVY!
HEY AIR FORCE!
LOW FLYIN AIR FORCE
GET IN YOUR PLANES AND FOLLOW ME
WE ARE THE US NAVY!
HEY COAST GUARD!
PUDDLE PIRATE COAST GUARD
GET IN YOUR BOATS AND FOLLOW ME
WE ARE THE US NAVY!
HEEEY NAVY!
WORLDS FINEST NAVY!
GET IN YOUR SHIPS AND COME WITH US
WE ARE THE US NAVY"
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ADDENDUM: A Camp Song That Includes A Folk Processed Form Of The Phrase "Pick Up The Step"
In 1996 my daughter learned this version of the call & response camp song entitled "All You Knuckleheads" (also given as "Hey You Knuckleheads" when she worked as a children's camp counselor at Lillian Taylor camp in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
LYRICS: ALL YOU KNUCKLEHEADS
(camp song as sung by Lillian Taylor Camp attendees. 1996)
{One caller says a line which is then repeated by the rest of the group).
All you knuckleheads
You dumb, dumb knuckleheads
Walking down the avenue
Five more miles and we are through
Your left, your left
Your left, right, left
Your left, your right
Go pick up the sticks
Your left your right, your left.
-snip-
Continue singing the song, decreasing the number of miles until the end when you sing "No more miles so we are through".
The sentence "pick up the sticks" is very familiar to most children in the United States because of the nursery rhyme "One two buckle my shoe". Here's probably the most common contemporary version of "One Two Buckle My Show" in that country:
"One, two,
Buckle my shoe;
Three, four,
Knock at the door;
Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight,
Lay them straight:
Nine, ten,
A big fat hen"
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Notice that this camp song also includes the "marching down the avenue/ __ more miles and we'll be through" lines from some other versions of the military cadence "Hey You Knuckleheads". For example:
From https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=10803
"Subject: RE: Cadence or Marching Songs
From: GUEST,ILUVCOSFORD
Date: 10 May 09 - 02:12 PM
HEY YOU KNUCKLEHEADS
Hey you knuckleheads,
(reply: Hey you knuckleheads)
You dumb dumb knuckleheads,
(reply: You dumb dumb knuckleheads)
You crazy knuckleheads
(reply: You crazy knuckleheads)
Marching down this avenue
(reply: Marching down this avenue)
...(number, starting with ten) more miles and we'll be through
(reply:... more miles and we'll be through)
Are we going strong?
(reply: we're strong)
Am I right or wrong?
(reply: You're right)
Sound off
(reply: One, two)
Round off
(reply: Three, four)
Turn em all around and bring em back down now
(reply: 4,3,2,1 4,3,2,1)
Keep repeating that, changing the number of miles each time, going down from ten to zero =)
Hope that helps! Xxx"
-snip-
*There are other versions of the children's camp song "Hey (or "All") You Knuckleheads". Click https://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/cms/lib/PA01000033/Centricity/Domain/342/Campfire_Sing.pdf" for the words to a Campfire version of that song. However, that version doesn't include the words "pick up the sticks" or "pick up the step".
I think it's likely that the Lillian Taylor camp song may have been adapted from the 1996 Baltimore Club song "Hey You Knuckle Heads" that was performed by Big Ria and it's very likely that that Baltimore Club song came from a version of the military cadence with that name. All of these cadences/songs have the same tune. The Baltimore Club song begins with call and response but then the "leader" and others recite the names of multiple Baltimore (Maryland) streets. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svqRtjtrFwE Baltimore Club Music- Knuckleheadz (Rep Ya Hood)
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