The Army Cadence "Pebbles And Bam Bam" Is Based On The First Verse Of The Early 20th Century Song "Raise A Ruckus Tonight"

Team Stay Motivated, Sep 19, 2016

These Warriors are camo up and headed to chow right after their final inspection prior to Vic Forge... they are Inspired, Motivated, and are on their last push to complete basic training... Th[ese are] your future Leaders that will protect your families and you at night and protecting you from harms way... Strive for Greatness!!!
-snip-
The "Pebbles And Bam Bam" cadence is found at 3:09 to 4:31 in this video. Read the lyrics for this version below in this post.

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post documents the similarities between the "Raise A Ruckus Tonight", "Three Little Angels" and the "Pebbles And Bam Bam" army cadence. 

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post .

****

RAISE A RUCUS (RUCKUS) TONIGHT

Gonna Raise a Ruckus Tonight ~ Carlisle Brothers with Guitars and Mandolin (1939)

Hankfan Hankfan, May 12, 2023  #78rpm #1939 #Country
-snip-
The earliest documentation of the song "Raise A Ruckus Tonight" is found in African American university professor and folklorist Thomas W. Talley's 1922  collection of songs entitled Negro Folk Rhymes: Wise And Other Wise. Click http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27195/27195-h/27195-h.htm page 90 for that song.

The first verse of that version of "Raise A Ruckus Tonight" isn't used in any other version of that song that I've come across. Here's that verse (given with amended spelling for the plural form of the pejorative referent that is commonly written now as "the n word" That word is completely spelled out in that song. The words that are given in brackets are the group's responses to the leader's call]

"Two liddle N----rs all dressed in white,

(Raise a rucus to-night)

Want to get to Heaben on de tail of a kite.

(Raise a rucus to-night)

De kite string broke; dem N----rs fell;

(Raise a rucus to-night)

Wha dem N----rs go, I hain't gwineter tell.

(Raise a rucus to-night)…."
-snip-
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruckus# gives this definition for the word "ruckus"  -"a noisy fight or disturbance, ROW, COMMOTION" 

**
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/raise-ruckus-tonight-examples-comments.html "Raise A Ruckus Tonight (examples & comments)" for the complete lyrics for that 1922 version of that song.

****
THREE LITTLE ANGELS (ALL DRESSED IN WHITE)

Three Little Angels 

onmyHONOUR, May 21, 2013
-snip-
This children's counting song is titled "Three Little Angels", "Ten Little Angels" or some other number.

It's clear that the basic words for the children's non-religious song "Three Little Angels" (All dressed in white)" have their source in the first verse of "Raise A Rucus Tonight" (as given in Thomas W. Talley's Negro Folk Rhymes: Wise And Other Wise). However, all of the lyrics of  "Raise A Rukcus Tonight" and "Three Little Angels" aren't the same . Also, "Three Little Angels" is sung in unison while early versions of "Raise A Ruckus Tonight" are sung in a call and response pattern.

Furthermore, the tune and tempo for "Three Little Angels" and the tunes and tempos for renditions of "Raise A Ruckus Tonight" that we know about aren't the same.*

*Unfortunately, the tune that was used for the version of "Raise A Rucus Tonight" that is given in Thomas W. Talley's Negro Folk Rhymes book isn't known. 

I haven't found any information about when "Three Little Angels (All dressed in White)" was first sung, but my guess is that it probably was composed in the 1940s around the same time as the children's rhyme "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" which has a very similar profanity avoidance lyric pattern. In the case of "Three Little Angels", the "profanity" that is avoided is the word "hell".

**

LYRICS - THREE LITTLE ANGELS (All dressed in white) 

Three little angels,
all dressed in white,
tried to get to heaven on the end of a kite,
but the kite,
it broke,
and down they all fell,
they didn’t get to heaven,
but they all went to….

(repeat, replacing THREE with TWO and then ONE, then move on to next verse)

Three little devils,
all dressed in red,
tried to get to heaven on the end of a thread,
but the thread,
it broke,
and down they all fell,
they didn’t get to heaven,
but they all went to…

(Two, One)

Three little martians,
all dressed in green,
tried to get to heaven in a washing machine,
but the washing machine
it broke,
and down they all fell,
they didn’t get to heaven,
but they all went to…

BED!"...

https://myvirtualsongbook.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/three-little-angels/
-end of quote 

Notice how in subsequent verses of contemporary versions of "Three Little Angels" other characters such as "devils" and "Martians" substitute for "angels". There also are several different ending lines for contemporary versions of this song. Among those lines are:

"They didn't go to heaven
They all went to 
bed"

"Don't get excited,
Don't lose your head.
They didn't get to heaven but they all went to bed!"

"Don't get excited and don't be mislead
Instead of going to heaven, they all went to
bed".

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE "PEBBLES AND BAM BAM" ARMY CADENCE 
"Pebbles and Bam Bam" are names for two fictional characters in the popular television animated series The Flintstones.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flintstones 
"The Flintstones is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, which takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighbors, the Rubbles. It was originally broadcast on ABC from September 30, 1960, to April 1, 1966, and was the first animated series with a prime-time slot on television.[2]

 The show follows the lives of Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their pet dinosaur, Dino, and they later on have a baby girl named Pebbles. Barney and Betty Rubble are their neighbors and best friends, and later on adopt a super-strong baby boy named Bam-Bam and acquire a pet hopparoo (kangaroo) called Hoppy."...
-end of quote- 

**
"Pebbles And Bam Bam" is the name of a United States Army cadence (jody) that is based on the children's song "Three Little Angels".* 

* his statement that the children's song "Three Little Angels" pre-dates the army cadence "Pebbles And Bam Bam" is based on my extrapolations regarding the dates of the cultural influences on these compositions. I haven't found any early dates for "Three Little Angels"  besides the first verse for "Raise A Ruckus Tonight" in Thomas W. Talley's 1922 book Negro Folk Rhymes: Wise And Other Wise. 

I also haven't found any definitive early date for the "Pebbles And Bam Bam" army cadence besides "the 1980s" (in several YouTube comments) and the comment that that cadence could have pre-dated the 1980s since The Flintstones television series was so popular in the 1960s.  If you have any information about when either or both of these compositions were first documented, please share that information in the comment section for this pancocojams post.  

**

LYRICS - PEBBLES AND BAM BAM 
(Version from Video #1 given at the top of this pancocojams post )  

[The troop repeats each line that the Sergeant sings.] 

Pebbles and Bam-Bam on a Friday night

Trying to get to heaven on a paper kite

Then Lightning struck and down they fell 

Instead of getting to heaven, they went straight to hell

Singin Yabba a dabba a dabbaly doo

Yabba daba daba daba a dabbly doo

And Dino the dog was on the bone 

While Fred and Barney rocked the microphone

Singin “Yabba daba daba a dabbaly do”

 Yabba daba, Yaba daba

 Yabba daba daba daba daba daaaaaba do!"
-snip-
This is my transcription from that video. Additions and corrections are welcome. 

Here's another version of "Pebbles And Bam Bam" that is given in the comment section of this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm-Mts6ni2E

@bigstuff3005, 2023
"Pebbles and bamm bamm on a Monday night
Tried to get to heaven on a C-47 flight

Lightning struck and down they soared
Instead of going to heaven they both went to war

Dino the dog was chewing out those rounds
While Fred and Barney heard those guerilla sounds

There was nothing Fred and Barney could do
Except singing, “yabba dabba dabba doo”

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Three Military Cadences About "Jody": "Ain’t No Sense In Goin Home", "Jody Boy", & "Jody's Got Your Cadillac"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - April 11, 2023

This oancocojams post showcases versions of these three military cadences about "Jody".

Background information and comments about the character "Jody" in military cadences are also included in this post along with my transcriptions of the lyrics to these versions of these cadences and a few selected comments from one of these sound files' discussion threads.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composers of these military cadences and thanks to the members of the United States armed services who are featured in these videos. Thanks to all those who served/serve honorably in the United States armed services and thanks to the publishers of these song files on YouTube.
-snip-
This post is part of pancocojams' ongoing series on African American songs and military cadences that include the male name "Jody". Click the "jodies" tag that is found below for other posts in this series.

****
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND COMMENTS ABOUT THE CHARACTER "JODY" IN MILITARY CADENCES
Here's a comment that was posted on the military cadences page of my no longer active cocojams website: 

David Whiteis, May 14, 2012
"Greetings --

I came across your website by accident -- it's wonderful, and when I have a LOT of time, I'll be exploring it much more deeply!

One or two thoughts on "Jody"/"Joe the Grinder" -- "Jody," of course, has come up in a lot of blues and soul-blues songs since Johnnie Taylor's hit (there's even a "Ms. Jody" performing on the Southern circuit these days). Johnnie Taylor himself confirmed that he got the idea for his song from the military cadence, "Ain't no use in going home / Jody's got your girl and gone." He also said he recorded it knowing that Afrcan-American soldiers during the Vietnam era would be familiar with it, and would immediately identify with it. I've heard it suggested that "Jody," in this case, may actually have been a kind of shortand for "Job Deferment" -- Jody, in other words, was that lucky guy who didn't get drafted because his job was considered essential to national defense or the economy . . . or simply because he had a "bossman" who could pull strings and keep him out of the army. The reference to "Joe the Grinder" might have been implied, but it might not have been the literal translation of the name.

No doubt the "Jody" cadence was used primarily by African-American drill sergeants for Black soldiers in the days of the segregated miitary. But If author Richard Yates is to be believed, the "Jody" cadence was known to some white soldiers as well. Yates' short story "Jody Rolled the Bones," set in the '50s during the Korean War era, is about a redneck drill sergeant who led his [white] troops in boot camp with various versions of that same "Jody" cadence.

Probably the best-known blues song after Johnnie Taylor's to invoke "Jody" is the late Marvin Sease's "I'm Mr. Jody" from 2006. But I also know of at least one song by a white singer where "Joe the Grinder" comes up-- it's Merle Haggard's "The Old Man From the Mountain" -- he admonishes his woman to "get rid of Joe the Grinder, you'd better be there alone / The old man from the mountain's comin' home" . . .

Again, I really like the website . . .

David Whiteis

Chicago
May 14, 2012"
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note:
David Whiteis is the author of Chicago Blues: Portraits and Stories and Southern Soul-Blues, both published by University of Illinois Press. (Southern Soul-Blues, by the way, has a full-length chapter profile of the singer Ms. Jody.)

**
Here's my response to David Whiteis' email (written in May 2012 and added to that cocojams website) :
"Greetings, David!

... I appreciate learning about Richard Yates's short story "Jody Rolled the Bones" that included a reference to White soldiers chanting Jody cadences.

I've read on other websites such as the Mudcat Folk & Blues forum that "Jodies" were known to some White soldiers as well as Black soldiers. One commenter on this particular Mudcat thread http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2915#467279 whose name happened to be Jody gave an example of a "Jody got your girl and gone" cadence and wrote that it was "the only one I remember that had my name in it was from basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Tex in the winter of 1947-48"...

I was a very active blogger on that forum & I know that blogger is White as are the other bloggers who are members of that forum who shared their remembrances of Jodies.

Then again that blogger didn't say that he chanted that cadence. He said that he remembered that cadence and he also shared another example of a cadence that he remembered hearing Black soldiers chant. But ther bloggers on that discussion thread and on other Mudcat discussion threads also shared examples of various Jodies that they either heard or chanted. It would be interesting to know if Jodies are still being chanted in todays integrated armed services.

Thanks also David for the information about Jody in Merle Haggard's "The Old Man From the Mountain".

With regard to the idea that Jody might have stood for "Job Deferment", the earliest examples of stories that feature that character, the name "Joe The Grinder" was given as "Joe De Grinder", with "de" being a way of pronouncing and spelling "the". However, I agree that over time there may have been a characterization of Jody as "that lucky guy who didn't get drafted because his job was considered essential to national defense or the economy . . . or simply because he had a "bossman" who could pull strings and keep him out of the army." Therefore the meaning "Job Deferment" could have been grafted onto the name "Jody".

Thanks again David, for your comments and your compliment about my cocojams website."
-snip-
I also added this comment exchange to this 2013 pancocojams post about "Jodies" http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/jodys-got-your-girl-and-gone-why.html Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone - Why Military Cadences Are Known As Jodies

****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILES
(given in no particular order)

Example #1: Jody - Military Running Cadence [Ain’t No Sense In Goin Home]



Armed Fitness USA, Published on Oct 18, 2013
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
Corey Kid, 2013
"Badass just like all cadences"

**
Eto Hige Gamer Culture, 2013
4 years ago
but there marching

**
REPLY
Hunter Hediger, 2015
"all they have to do is speed it down some for a marching cadence, which is what they did. tons of jodies and cadences can do that"

**
edmund mcmahon, 2016
"Need more JODIE CALLS!, ! Guess all those women who make Ranger's schoolwill have to be one of the Guy's. Salute Tammy Duckworth"
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth
"Ladda Tammy Duckworth (born March 12, 1968) is an American politician and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, serving as the junior United States Senator for Illinois since 2017

[...]

Duckworth was the first Asian American woman elected to Congress in Illinois, the first disabled woman to be elected to Congress, and the first member of Congress born in Thailand. Her father, an American, and her Thai mother were working and living there at the time. Duckworth is the second Asian-American woman serving in the U.S. Senate after Mazie Hirono and next to Kamala Harris."...
-snip-
Tammy Duckworth may not be related to Willie Duckworth who is credited with composing the military cadence "Sound Off" (also known as "The Duckworth chant". Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_cadence#The_Duckworth_Chant_(or_Sound_Off!) the Duckworth chant.

**
LYRICS - JODY: (AIN'T NO SENSE IN GOIN HOME"

[The troops repeat every line after the leader chants it, except for the "Sound Off" portion.]

Ain’t no sense in goin home
Jody’s got your girl and gone
Ain’t no sense in feelin blue
Jody’s got your sista too

Sound off
(1, 2)
Sound off
(3, 4)
Break it on down
(1, 2, 3,4
1, 2
3, 4!)

Hey-eh Sergeant Hardy
If everybody party like you party*
???
Make us clean it up again

Sound off [leader]
(1, 2) [troops]
Sound off [leader]
(3, 4) [troops]
Break it on down [leader]
(1, 2, 3, 4 [troops]
1, 2
3, 4!)

I don’t know but it’s been said
Navy wings are made of lead
I don’t know but I’ve been told
Airforce wings are made of gold

Sound off
(1, 2)
Sound off
(3, 4)
Break it on down
(1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2
3, 4!)
-snip-
*I'm not sure if this transcription is correct, and I can't understand the next line. Additions and corrections are welcome.

The line "I don't know but I've been told/Airforce wings are made of gold" is an adaptation of these lyrics from an African American Spiritual: "I don't know but I've been told/streets of Heaven are paved with gold."

****
Example #2: 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
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:

**
LYRICS: (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-
* "Camo" probably means "camouflage". However, I'm not sure if this transcription is correct. Corrections are welcome.

A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Lillian Taylor camp song entitled "All You Knuckleheads" uses an adapted form of the last verse of this military cadence. The version of those lines in that call & response camp song that I learned around 1996 from my daughter is:
Your left, your left
Your left, right, left
Your left, your right
Go pick up the sticks
Your left your right, your left.
-snip-
The Baltimore Club song "Hey You Knuckle Heads" was performed by Big Ria in 1996. That song begins with call and response but then the "leader" and others recite the names of multiple Baltimore (Maryland) streets.

It's possible that the Pittsburgh camp song was an adaptation of that Baltimore Club song.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/baltimore-club-song-hey-you.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Baltimore Club Song - "Hey You Knuckleheads" And Pittsburgh Camp Song "All You Knuckleheads""
-snip-
Lyrics for another version of "Jody Boy" can be found at http://musc291projectfewelld.web.unc.edu/2015/11/27/19/
Here's a quote from that page:
"For further context, within the military, individuals consider any guy whom purposely flirts with the significant other of a Marine/Sailor?soldier who is deployed, a Jodie. This is the name given to any guy whom fits the role. The female version of this type of person is referred to as “Felicia”.
-snip-
Note: I’ve never heard that "Felicia" is the female version of “Jody” is “Felicia”. If this is true, I wonder if it predates the “Bye Felicia” meme that has its source in the 1995 African American comedy/drama movie Friday.

****
Example #3: Jody's Got Your Cadillac



The U.S. Marine Corps – Topic, Published on Sep 4, 2015

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises

Jody's Got Your Cadillac · The U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance

Workout to the Running Cadences U.S. Recon Marines

℗ 1998 Documentary Recordings

Released on: 2002-02-05

**
LYRICS: (for this version of that cadence)

[The troops repeat every line after the leader chants it

Lo right lay o
lefty right lay o

Ain’t no sense in lookin down
Ain’t no six pack on the ground
Ain’t no sense in lookin back
Jody’s got your Cadillac.

lo right lay o
lefty right lay o
Lo right lo right layo
Rolly rolly rolly shake my booty

Lo right lay o
lefty right lay o
Lo right lo right layo
Rolly rolly rolly shake my booty
-snip-
I think that "lo right lay o" means "left right left".

"Cadillac" is a brand of American cars. "Cadillacs" used to be considered expensive cars, and therefore were status symbols.

A form of the line "Rolly rolly rolly shake my booty" from this military cadence is found as the hook of the 1988 Hip Hop song "Rollin With Kid N Play".
https://genius.com/Kid-n-play-rollin-with-kid-n-play-lyrics

[Hook]
"Ho-la, ho-la, hey
Ho-la, ho-la, hey
Rolling rolling roll
With Kid 'n Play now
Rolling rolling roll
With Kid 'n Play now

Ho-la, ho-la, hey
Ho-la, ho-la, hey
Rolling rolling roll
With Kid 'n Play now
Rolling rolling roll"
-snip-
I'm not sure whether the "rolly rolly rolly shake my booty" line in the military cadence is the source of the Kid N Play lyrics or vice versa.

The historically Black Greek letter fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Inc. uses the line "Rollin rollin rollin with Que Psi Phi" in one of their chants. I've no doubt that that line came from the Kid N Play song.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

A Sound File Of & Lyrics For A 1960s Prison Work Song Entitled "Jody"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a filmed rendition of a late 1960s African American prison work song entitled "Jody".

The lyrics to this version of this work song are included in this post along with a few selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

This post is part of pancocojams' ongoing series on African American songs and military cadences that include the male name "Jody". Click the "jodies" tag that is found below for other posts in this series.

Thanks to the composer/s of this song and thanks to Benny Richardson and others who sung this song. Thanks also to Bruce Jackson, the collector of this song in the late 1960s and thanks to the publisher of this song file on YouTube.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO "Jody" (Prison work song)



Jody Rosen, Published on Jan 28, 2016

-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's YouTube discussion thread

Performed by Benny Richardson & fellow inmates

Recorded at Ellis Unit Prison, Huntsville, Texas, March 24, 1966

DeMarcus jones, 2017
this is truth this is our past . We are strong

**
Jane Doe, 2017
"The no b.s. origin of military cadence."

****
LYRICS
(Sung by Benny Richardson)

I've been working all day long,
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
Pickin' this stuff called cotton and corn,
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

We raise cotton, cane and a-corn.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
'Taters and tomatoes and a-that ain't all,
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

Back is weak and I done got tired,
Got to tighten up just to save my hide.

Boss on a hoss and he's watchin' us all,
Better tighten up, (if we) don't we'll catch the hall.

Wonder if the Major will go my bail.
(Or) give me twelve hours standing on the rail.

BRIDGE:
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

I see the Captain sittin' in the shade.
He don't do nothin' but-a he get paid.

We work seven long days in a row.
Two sacks of Bull and a picture show.

In the wintertime we get no lay,
Cuttin' cane and makin' syrup every day.

When it gets wet in the cane field.
All the squads work around the old syrup mill.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

Two more months and it won't be long.
Gonna catch the chain 'cause I'm goin' home.

Goin' back home to my old gal, Sue,
My buddy's wife and his sister, too.

Ain't no need of you writin' home.
Jody's got your girl and gone.

Ain't no need of you feelin' blue,
Jody's got your sister, too.

First thing I'll do when I get-a home.
Call my woman on the telephone.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

Gonna settle down for the rest of my life.
Get myself a job and get myself a wife.

Six long years I've been in the pen.
Don't want to come to this place again.

Captain and the boss is drivin' us on.
Makin' us wish we'd-a stayed at home.

If we had listened what our mama say,
We wouln't be cuttin' wood here today.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

Captain and the boss is drivin' us on,
Makin' us wish we'd-a stayed at home.

We had listened what our mama say,
We wouldn't (be) droppin' big timber here today.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.


Online Source: http://www.worksongs.org/blog/2015/4/28/jody

From Wake Up Dead Man CD recorded by Bruce Jackson at Texas prisons in the mid-'60's.

Jody was sung by Benny Richardson in Ellis Unit, part of the Texas penitentiary system in Hendersonville, Texas in the 1960s. It was collected by Bruce Jackson and his scholarship matches the remarkable nature of the song itself."...
-snip-
Notice these verses that are also found in some form or another in "Jody" military cadences:
"Ain't no need of you writin' home.
Jody's got your girl and gone.

Ain't no need of you feelin' blue,
Jody's got your sister, too."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

"Everywhere We Go" (Marine Corp cadence videos, lyrics, & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases United States Marine Corps examples of the running cadence "Everywhere We Go".

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/non-military-examples-of-everywhere-we.html for a post of non-military examples of "Everywhere We Go".

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.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/information-about-examples-of-duckworth.html to find general information about United States military cadences

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/13-weeks-of-misery-usmc-cadence-with.html to read my comments about African American cultural elements in many military cadences.

****
COMMENT ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF MILITARY CADENCES
This comment is from a viewer comment thread for a sound file of the military cadence "Ain't no use in looking down":
cliffitir, 2012
"The point of a cadence is to keep the pace and to keep your mind occupied while on long forced marches."

****
TEXT EXAMPLE OF "EVERYWHERE I GO" (United States Marine Corps
version with notes)
(Double Time Cadence)

Everywhere we go-oh, Everywhere we go-oh.
People wanna know-oh, People wanna know-oh.
Who we are, Who we are.
So we tell them, So we tell them.
24, 24.
24, 24.
Motivated, Motivated.
Dedicated, Dedicated.
Dedicated, Dedicated.
Motivated, Motivated.

A-lo righta lay-eft, A-lo righta lay-eft.
A-lo righta layy-eft, Lo righta layy-eft.
Here we go, Here we go.
All the way, All the way.
Here we go, Here we go.
Make it hurt, Make it hurt.
Make it hurt, Make it hurt.
Yeah, Yeah.
Yeah, Yeah.

Drill instructor can’t you see, Drill instructor can’t you see.
A-Come on out and a-motivate me, A-Come on out and motivate me.
Take it on the left foot, Take it on the left foot.
Mighty Mighty Left foot, Mighty Mighty Left foot.
Take it, Take it.
I Got it, I Got it.
Lo righta lay-eft, Lo righta lay-eft.
A-Lefty righta lay-eft, A-Lefty righta lay-eft.
A-Lo right lay-eft, Lo right lay-eft.
Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah.
Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah.
Here We Go, Here We Go.
Here We Go, Here We Go.

Guide-on Guide-on in the sky, Guide-on Guide-on in the sky.
Show the world whos a-runnin’ on by, Show the world whos runnin’ on by.
A-1024 Now, 1024 Now.
Best on the Island, Best on the Island.
A-Best in the company, Best in the company.
A-Best in the Island,Best in the Island.

-------------------------------------------
Standard Notations:
Words in italics are the unit response to the DI's call.
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.

From SRT Sniper, Marine http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?10271-Cadence-time!!!/page7, 07-15-06, 02:19 PM#91
-snip-
"Best on the island" refers to Parris Island, "the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915." [Parris Island Wikipedia page]

"A-Lo right lay-eft" means "left right left" [All cadences start with the left foot.]

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
(These examples are posted in chronological order based on their posting date with the oldest dated examples presented first.

Note: There are many other examples of this military cadence from the USMC and from other branches of the United States military. The structure & tune of this cadence are relatively fixed, and some of the lines to this cadence have become standard. However a version of this cadence isn't considered wrong if it contains different words, as long as that version conforms with the pattern & theme of the cadence.

Example #1: MARINE CORPS CADENCE- EVERY WHERE WE GO

.

bgft, Uploaded on Oct 31, 2008
-snip-
Transcription*
[The squad repeats each line after the caller chants it.]

We’re motivated
We’re dedicated
Aha
Yah ha
Everywhere we go,
People wanna know,
Who we are,
Where we come from
We come from an island
a Motivated island.
We come from an island
a Motivated island.
They call that island
Paris island
They call that island
Parris island
It ain’t like the army
At Fort Jackson.
It ain’t like the navy
Down in Florida
It ain’t no fly boy
Over in Texas
Woah oh Woah oh
Woah oh oh oh oh oh
Woah oh Woah oh
Woah oh oh oh oh oh
Parris island
There ain’t no other
And on that island
There is sand
But it’s gonna make
Make ah man.
Woah oh woah oh
Woah oh oh oh oh oh
Woah oh woah oh
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Ah ha
Here we go
Motivated
Motivated
Shoo sha
Ah ha
Harder than ah nail
Oh yeah
Here we go
Motivated
Dedicated
To the Corps
Your Corps
Your Corps
Your Corps
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell. Additions & corrections are welcome.

Click
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Corps_Recruit_Depot_Parris_Island for information about Parris Island.

****
Example #2: Marine Corps Cadence - "Everywhere We Go"



TheCrazySweed, Uploaded on Nov 11, 2010
-snip-
Transcription*
[The squad repeats each line after the caller chants it.}

Everywhere we go,
People wanna know,
ah Who we are,
So we tell them,
We're the boys from 47 you heard so much about,
ah Momma take their daughters in whenever we go out
FEELS GOOD
SOUNDS GOOD
HA-HA,
Ah You can take a look at us and see we're MOTIVATED
Ah You can take a look at us you know we're DEDICATED
Ah Lo righta lay-eft
Ah Lefty righta lay-eft
Ah Lo righta lay-eft
Ah Left righta lay-eft
A Lo-righta lay-eft
I love to double time
When I say Marine you say Corp
Marine
Corps
Marine
Corps
Ah Lo righta lay-eft
Ah Lefty righta lay-eft,
Ah Lo righta lay-eft,
Ah Left righta lay-eft
A Lo-righta lay-eft,
I love to double time
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell. Additions & corrections are welcome.

****
RELATED LINK
Click http://www.squad-leader.com/cadence/everywhere-we-go/ for two clean versions of the United States Navy's version of "Everywhere I gO".

****
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.

My Old Granny, She's 91 (military cadence videos, lyrics, & notes)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision - Oct. 7, 2022

This post showcases sound files of and (clean) text examples (lyrics) for the United States Military cadence "When My Granny Was 91". This cadence is also known as "My Granny", "My Great Grandmomma" and other similar titles.

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.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/information-about-examples-of-duckworth.html to find general information about United States military cadences

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/yo-greasy-grimey-granny-black-talk-in_04.html for a pancocojams post on the children's chant "Yo Greasy Grimey Granny". That chant may have been composed from the "My Old Granny, She's 91" military cadence.

****
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF "MY OLD GRANNY, SHE'S 91" CADENCE
"My Old Granny She's 91" is a running cadence which is composed of two line rhyming verses which are chanted in the standard call & response pattern. The verses to this cadence usually proceed in chronological order. The cadence begins with the grandmother at age 91 and usually ends with the grandmother being commanded by the archangel St Peter who guards Heaven's door [the Pearly Gates] to "drop ten" (do ten push ups).

The tune of this cadence is the same tune as the African American Old Time Music songs "Hambone" and "Hush Little Baby Don't You Cry".

The cadence "My Old Granny, She's 91" brags about the physical prowess, stamina, and tough attitude of an elderly grandmother.
The words to "My Old Granny, She's 91" are meant to encourage thee troops to complete their PT (physical training) since they wouldn't want to be bested by their elderly grandmother.

The grandmother's exaggerated physical feats is an example of the American folk custom of "telling tall tales" ("telling lies", "bragging contests"). Telling tall tales was a leisure time activity that Americans - Black, White, and other races - engaged in, particularly in the American Western frontier (in the 19th century) and in the rural areas of the American South (from the 19th century up to at least the mid 20th century).

****
FEATURED VIDEOS AND LYRICS
(These examples are posted in chronological order based on their posting date with the oldest dated examples presented first. Unless otherwise noted, I transcribed these cadences' lyrics from the sound files (videos). Additions and corrections are welcome.

Note: There are many other examples of this cadence. Like other folk cultural compositions (songs, rhymes, cadences and other chants), the structure & tune of this cadence are relatively fixed, and some of the lines to this cadence have become standard. However, as long as the example conforms with the pattern & theme of the cadence, an example isn't considered wrong if it contains different words.

Example #1: Army Cadence - My Old Granny, She's 91
UnMotivated, Uploaded on Sep 19, 2008
-snip-
LYRICS: MY GRANNY’S 91
[Pancocojams Editor's Note Oct. 7, 2022: This sound file is no longer available. ]

(The "group" repeats each line that is chanted by the "caller".)

1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3, 4
My old granny, she’s 91
She does PT just for fun
My old granny, she’s 92
Stand in her way, she’ll run you right through
My old granny. she’s ah 93
She does PT in a tree
My old granny, she’s ah 94
Knock down the walls and busted the door
My old granny’s she’s ah 95
She does PT and that’s no jive
When my old granny was ah 96
She done PT just for kicks
When my old granny was ah 97
She up and died and she went straight to heaven
She met St. Peter at the pearly gate
She said “Hey, St. Peter, I hope I ain’t late"
Saint Peter looked at her with a grin
He said “Get down Granny and knock down ten”
-snip-
Term Explanations & Other Notes
"That’s no jive" – that’s not a lie

"Knock down 10" - do ten push ups

Regarding the "ah" in lines such as "My old granny’s she’s ah 94" and "When my old granny was ah 97" - “Ah” is the way many African Americans informally pronounce the word “a”. However, in this cadence amd in many other cadences “ah” used this way is a rhythm enhancer and not a word.

***
Example #2: Navy Running Cadences



MrRicoLove, Uploaded on May 8, 2010
-snip-
LYRICS
(The "group" repeats each line that is chanted by the "caller".)

My grand momma was 91
She does PT just for fun
But* when grand momma was s 92
She did PT better than you
When my grand momma was 93
She did PT better than me
She ran ten miles every day
Just ah hootin and ah hollerin all the way.
She said ah “Ooh!**
Ah!
Ooh ooh
ah ah
When my grand momma was 94
She PT’d to get out the door.
When my grand momma was 95
She did PT to stay alive
But* when my grand momma was 96
She did PT just for kicks
She ran ten miles every day
Just ah hootin and ah hollerin all the way.
She said ah “Ooh!**
Ah!
Ooh ooh
ah ah
When my grand momma was 97
She PT’d to get into heaven
She met St. Peter at the pearly gates
She said “St. Peter, St. Peter am I late”
St Peter replied with a big ole grin
He said “Drop down granny and give me ten”
She said “Hey hey
Alright
Hey hey
Out of sight
Hey hey
Feelin great
Gotta get
In shape
-snip-
Term Explanations & Other Notes
*The group omits the word “but”

** The group only says “Ooh”

Pt = physical training

"give me 10" - do ten push ups

"out of sight" = something that is exceptional (very good)

****
Example #3: my grandmama was 92 (marine cadence)
Jellisrellish Uploaded on Jul 25, 2010

another maine cadence in the series. hope you enjoy.
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note: Oct. 7, 2022

This sound file is no longer available.
Here's my transcription of those lyrics.
Note: The platoon repeats each line that is chanted by the "caller".

My grand mama was ah 92
She used to PT like ah me and you
My grand mama was ah 96
She did her PT just for kicks
My grand mama was ah 107
Well, the poor girl died and she went to heaven
My grandmamma was ah 98
She went side-straddle hoppin' through the pearly gates
My grandmamma was ah 109
She had oh JC double and dime*
Lo righta layo
ah left right alayo
-snip-
*I'm not sure if I correctly transcribed these word.
-snip-
Here's another version of this cadence which was posted by Nathan Posey (2012) on that sound file’s comment thread:

When my Grandmama was 91,
she did PT just for fun
When my Grandmama was 92,
she did PT better than you
When my Grandmama was 93,
she did PT better than me
When my Grandmama was 94,
she did PT more n' more
When my Grandmama was 95
she did PT to stay alive
When my Grandmama was 96
she did PT just for kicks
When my Grandmama was 97
she up and died she went to heaven
When my Grandmama was 98
she met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates.

****
Example #4:
From http://www.tulane.edu/~afrotc/jodie.htm "air force rotc Jodie Page"

My Granny...

When my granny was 91
She did PT just for fun

When my granny was 92
She did PT better than you

When my granny was 93
She did PT better than me

When my granny was 94
She did PT more and more

When my granny was 95
She did PT to stay alive

When my granny was 96
She kept on doing flutter-kicks

When my granny was 97
She up and died and went to heaven

She met St. Peter at the pearly gates
Said, "St. Peter, St. Peter, hope I'm not late

St. Peter said with a big ol' grin
"Get down granny, and knock out ten"

She replied with a big ol' smile
"Sorry, St. Peter, I'm on profile!"
-snip-
"on profile" = "personel who can't participate in reegular physical fitness training because of an injury or other physical condition/s. http://community.armystudyguide.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/6151093521/m/2941098352/p/2

Generally speaking, persons in the armed services don't want to be "on profile" ("profiled").

****
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.

"13 Weeks Of Misery" USMC Cadence (with lyrics)

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.

****
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.

****
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".

****
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

****
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........."

****
Note that in drill cadences the words “layo” and “low” mean “left [foot]”.

****
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"

****
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.

****
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.

"Fired Up! Feels Good" Military Cadence (Examples & Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest edition -December 18, 2024

This pancocojams post showcases examples of the United States Marine Corps cadence "Fired Up! Feels Good" (also known as "Fired Up! Feeling Good").

Particular attention in this post is paid to the subject of the African American cultural influence on drill cadences in general, and the "Fired Up! Feeling Good" cadence in particular.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.
-snip-

The examples of military cadences in this post are "clean" ("family friendly"). However, many other examples of military cadences & many comments about military cadences contain profanity, explicit sexual references, excessive violence, and other content which aren't suitable for children.

****
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MILITARY CADENCES
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_cadence
"In the armed services, a military cadence or cadence call is a traditional call-and-response work song sung by military personnel while running or marching. In the United States, these cadences are sometimes called jody calls or jodies, after Jody, a recurring character who figures in some traditional cadences.

...Many cadences have a call and response structure of which one soldier initiates a line, and the remaining soldiers complete it... The cadence calls move to the beat and rhythm of the normal speed (quick time) march or running-in-formation (double time) march. This serves the purpose of keeping soldiers "dressed", moving in step as a unit and in formation, while maintaining the correct beat or cadence."
-snip-
For more information about & examples of military cadences, including information about the meaning of the character "Jody" click this link to a page of my cocojams website: http://cocojams.com/content/military-cadences-other-cadences

EDITOR'S COMMENT ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN INFLUENCES ON UNITED STATES MILITARY CADENCES:
This comment is reposted with minor word changes from http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2915&messages=131 "Military Jodies?"

"Pardon me if this is too serious a comment for this thread. But I feel the need to get right down to the real nitty gritty...

With regard to the article whose link I provided*, that author wrote that cadence calls "takes lyrical fragments of social history and sets them to riffs and patterns hot-rodded from blues and rock & roll, and more distantly, the call-and-response of gospel and African music".

Given that the genres of blues, and rock & roll, and gospel, and African music" [as a broad brush generic category] all originate from Black folks [at least the type of gospel I believe the author is talking about] and given that Willie Duckworth [whose 1944 Sound Off chant is rightly considered the beginning of modern military cadence calls] is African American, and further given the fact that the other name for military cadence calls is "jodies" and the name "jodies" came from the African American literary character "Joe de organ grinder", given all this plus the call & response pattern and sexual braggadocio features of military cadence calls, it seems to me that it would be correct and proper to consider the genre of "cadence calls" as a part of African American cultural heritage. And if that goes too far, at the very least, it seems to me that it would be correct and proper to acknowledge that cadence calls are heavily influenced by African American cultural heritage.

It also seems to me that people think that they have to tip toe around the mention of race or be considered racist. One consequence of this is that recognition of the accomplishments of African Americans and other people of color is often hidden.

Previously, recognition of Black accomplishments were discounted, trivilized, hidden, or claimed by others because the powers that be were indeed racist. And that beat is still going on today a lot of times and in a lot of places...

For a number of reasons, I don't think it's a good thing to discount, trivilize, or hide Black accomplishments and the influences Black people have had on specific music genres and other parts of history and cultures.

For a number of reasons, I don't think it's a good thing that African American accomplishments & influences are claimed by others. I also don't think that it's a good thing that no acknowlegment of the racial background of folks is given at all since in this "White is the default race" world, many people will automatically think that White people were the creators of the primary influencers of whatever it is that folks are talking or reading about.

This is not to say that people of other races and cultures have had no part in the creation of blues, rock & roll, gospel, or military cadence calls. But, if truth were told, all of those genres have been and are now most heavily influenced by African American cultures and other Black cultures.

I just needed to say that.

You can take all of it or some of it or leave it all behind."
-Ms. Azizi Powell; June 24, 2007
*The link is no longer viable to an article on the military cadence "Airborne Ranger".
-snip-
Comments about the African American influence on the "Fired Up! Feeling Good" cadence in particular are posted below.

****
FEATURED VIDEOS & LYRICS
(These videos are presented in chronological order with the videos with the oldest dates posted first.)

Example #1: U.S Marines ''Fired Up - Feel Good'' with footage



zoomscooper81 Uploaded on Jun 23, 2008

Tribute to the United States Marines. If you like, please subscribe.
-snip-
Like other military cadences, there are multiple versions of "Fired Up! Feeling Good". Here's a version of this cadence that was published on http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/archive/index.php/t-22848.html:

A-lo righta lay-eft, A-lo righta lay-eft.
A-Lefty righta lay-eft, A-Lefty righta lay-eft.
A-Lo right lay-eft, A-Lo right lay-eft.
A-Left right lay-eft, A-Left right lay-eft.
A-Lo righta lay-eft, A-Lo righta lay-eft.
I love to double time, I love to double time.

Feels good, Feels good.
Sounds good, Sounds good.
Fired up, Fired up.
Fired up, Fired up.
47, 47.
Fired up, Fired up.
Here we go, Here we go.
On the Road, On the Road.
47, 47.
Fired up, Fired up.
-winchman, 02-14-2007, 03:34 AM
-snip-
Commenters on that discussion thread provide several explanations for the number "47". One of those explanations is also given on http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101113162136AAaxcPV "Signifance of 27 in Marine Song Fired Up Feels Good"?"
" Many of those official USMC cadences were recorded during drill instructor school. The 27 is most likely a class number. There are no units in the USMC with a "27" in them"
-Future Jarheads, 2010
-snip-
The tune used for "Fired Up! Feels Good" is the same tune as the African American Old Time Music songs "Hush Little Baby" and "Hambone".

****
Example #2: The Unit theme song - fired up feel good



erabaretaLazyPROD, Uploaded on Jun 21, 2010

music and pictures : The Unit
-snip
Here's information about "The Unit" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unit
" 'The Unit' is an American action-drama television series that focused on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force. The series originally aired on CBS from March 7, 2006 to May 10, 2009"....
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's comment thread:
Jomskylark - 2011
"... the cadence itself is a USMC cadence, but the characters depicted in the television series are soldiers (Army, specifically Delta Force). It's weird why the composer chose to use a USMC cadence for an Army series, but whatever..."

****
Example #3: Fired up



northshore054, Published on May 7, 2012
-snip-
The following lyrics were found in this video's summary, but are reformatted for this post.

FIRED UP! FEELING GOOD
A-Where we gonna go when we get back, A-Where we gonna go when we get back
I take the shower and hit the rack, I take the shower and hit the rack
A-No way; No way.
Gotta Run, Gotta Run
PT; PT
A-Lots o' fun, Lots o' fun

A-lo righta lay-eft, A-lo righta lay-eft
A-Lefty righta lay-eft, A-Lefty righta lay-eft
A-Lo right lay-eft, A-lo righta lay-eft
A-Left right lay-eft, A-Lefty righta lay-eft
A-Lo righta lay-eft , A-lo righta lay-eft
I love to double time. I love to double time.

Feels good, Feels good
Sounds good, Sounds good
Fired up, Fired up
Fired up, Fired up
47, 47
Fired up, Fired up
Here we go, Here we go
On the Road, On the Road
Fired up, Fired up
47, 47
Fired up, Fired up

Hey bobba reeba, Hey bobba reeba
Hey bobba reeba, Hey bobba reeba
I wish old lady, I wish old lady
Uuuh-Uuuh, Uuuh-Uuuh
Feels Good, Feels Good
Hey bobba reeba, Hey bobba reeba
-snip-
[cadence continues with words already given]
-snip-

Note that this transcription explanation applies to the above lyrics:
From http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?10271-Cadence-time!!!/page7&p=221834#post221834
"Words in italics are the unit response to the DI's call.
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-
Among many African Americans, in informal usage, the word "a" is usually pronounced "ah"."
-snip-
"Hey bobba reeba" is from the Lionel Hampton's 1946 Jazz song "Hey Ba Ba Ree Ba". Click http://cocojams.com/content/hey-ba-ba-re-bop-videos-lyrics-precusor-songs-analysis for that post.

****
Example #4: Fired Up! military cadence



armedfitnessusa, Published on Dec 24, 2012
Armed Fitness USA track "Fired Up," will get you fired up for your military workout.
-snip-
Transcription of "FIRED UP! FEELIN GOOD"*
[The group repeats each line, sometimes leaving off the beginning word such as "I" or "You" or "A".]

Fired up
Feelin good
Motivated
Dedicated
Well alright
Alright
Out of sight
I’m dynomite
Dynomite
Doin it right
Wanna jump
From a bird
All right
Everybody
Fired up
Everybody
Dedicated
Motivated
Everybody
Packin heat
Old man
Feelin good
Gonna ride
Doin this song
Lean and mean
A green machine
Airborne
I am
Lean and mean
Rough and tough
I know my stuff
I can run
All day
I can fight
All night
Let me be
Infantry
Airborne
Silver wings
Fired up
Fired up
All right
Everybody
Clap your hands
Everybody
Clap your hands
Everybody
Sound off
Everybody
Let them know
Who you are
All right
Dynamite
Everybody
Clap your hands
We gonna boogie
Boogie Woogie
Boogalu
Me and you
Airborne
All right
We’re gonna rock
Everybody
I gonna be
Airborne
I’m gonna be
Lean and mean
A green machine
I’m airborne
All the way
You got the feelings
In your legs
Pick them up
And put them down
You got the feelings
In your hands
You gonna clap
Airborne
You got the feeling
In your heart
Sound off
Everybody
We gonna rock
All right
Hey Hey
Every day
I’m motivated
I’m dedicated
I can run
I can jump
A Paratrooper
A superdooper
A Paratrooper
All right
Hey hey
Everybody
How ya feel
Feelin good
How ya feel
Feelin good
All right
[Group leads] How ya lookin
Lead: Lookin good
Group-Lookin good
Lead- Hollywood [returns to regular pattern]
All right
You’re dynomite
Hey hey
Everybody
Feelin good
I’m Fired up
I’m motivated
Dedicated

[ends with rhythmic hand clapping]
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell. Italics mean that I'm not sure about that transcription. Additions and corrections welcome.
-snip-
The African American influences in this example of "Fired Up! "Feelin Good" include
1. its call & response structure [Also note the alternative call & response structure in which the Group voice starts and the Lead responds to the Group.]

2. its use of African American Vernacular English pronunciation such as "feelin" instead of "feeling", "ya" instead of "you", and "gonna" instead of "going to".

3. its use of African American vernacular sayings such as "Fired up! [meaning "Be energized"; "Be excited"], "We’re gonna rock" ("We're going to do very well"), "Out of sight" (meaning "great", "superlative"), and "Dynomite!" ("very good", a saying that was popularized by the character of J.J. in the 1970s American sitcom "Good Times. That situation comedy featured an African American family living in a working class housing development.)

Notice the very close similarity between the exclamation "Fired up! Feels good" and the "Fired up. Ready To Go" saying that was used in the 2008 and [to a lesser extent] 2012 Presidental campaign of United States President Barack Obama.

4. its repeated use of certain rhyming lyrics such as
"All right/ Hey Hey/ Every day"

5. its inclusion of the African American dance/music references "boogie woogie", and the Affican American/Latino reference "Boogalu".

6. its inclusion of the "clap your hands" command and its ending with the rhythmic hand clapping segment.
-snip-
Furthermore, the African American cultural influence of this particular example of "Fired Up! Feelin Good" is suggested because some of the lines in this example appear to be improvisational. [All of its lyrics aren't fixed. Some of its lyrics were probably made up "on the spot".]

And because all of its lyrics aren't fixed, there' no fixed length of this cadences [or of most cadences]*. The cadence continues as long as the situation dictated.

*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/13-weeks-of-misery-usmc-cadence-with.html for an example of a USMC cadence entitled "13 Weeks Of Misery" that appears to have little or no variants, but has a story line which appears to be recited in its entirety.

****
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.

Sam Cooke, Otis Redding - Chain Gang (Lyrics, Sound Files, & Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a rendition of the song "Chain Gang" by Sam Cooke and a rendition of that same song by Otis Redding. Lyrics to those versions are also included in this post.

This post also includes information about chain gangs.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

WHAT ARE CHAIN GANGS?
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_gang
"A chain gang is a group of prisoners chained together to perform menial or physically challenging work, such as mining or timber collecting, as a form of punishment. Such punishment might include building roads, digging ditches or chipping stone. This system existed primarily in the southern parts of the United States, and by 1955 had been phased out nationwide, with Georgia the last state to abandon the practice.[1] Chain gangs were reintroduced by a few states during the "get tough on crime" 1990s, with Alabama being the first state to revive them in 1995. The experiment ended after about one year in all states except Arizona,[2] where in Maricopa County inmates can still volunteer for a chain gang to earn credit toward a high school diploma or avoid disciplinary lockdowns for rule infractions.[3]

FEATURED SONG EXAMPLES

Example #1: Sam Cooke "Chain Gang"



jijbentlilik,Uploaded on Apr 9, 2008

Video ripped from www.chaingangpictures.com so visit their website and give them the credits
-snip-

LYRICS: CHAIN GANG
(Sam Cooke and Charles Cooke)

I hear somethin' sayin'


(Hooh! aah!) (hooh! aah!)
(Hooh! aah!) (hooh! aah!)


(Well, don't you know)
That's the sound of the men working on the chain ga-a-ang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang


All day long they're singin'
(Hooh! aah!) (hooh! aah!)
(Hooh! aah!) (hooh! aah!)


(Well, don't you know)
That's the sound of the men working on the chain ga-a-ang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang


All day long they work so hard
Till the sun is goin' down
Working on the highways and byways
And wearing, wearing a frown
You hear them moanin' their lives away
Then you hear somebody sa-ay


That's the sound of the men working on the chain ga-a-ang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang


Can't ya hear them singin'
Mm, I'm goin' home one of these days
I'm goin' home see my woman
Whom I love so dear
But meanwhile I got to work right he-ere


(Well, don't you know)
That's the sound of the men working on the chain ga-a-ang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang


All day long they're singin', mm
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my work is so hard
Give me water, I'm thirsty
My work is so hard

http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/sam_cooke/chain_gang.html

****
Otis Redding - Chain Gang



Tribalsanne1984, Uploaded on Mar 29, 2010
-snip-
LYRICS: CHAIN GANG
(as sung by Otis Redding)

That's the sound of the men
They are working on the chain gang, huh
That's the sound of the men
They're working on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men
When they're working on the chain gang

All day long you hear them, ooh!
I'm going home, just one of these ole days
Man, i'm going home to see my woman
For my love's so dear
But meanwhile I gotta work right here now, huh

And that's the sound of the men
They're just working on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men
They're working on the highways and the biways
That's the sound of the men
Working on the highway and biway
All day long they're going, ooh

Man, i'm going home to see that woman
who I love so dear
I gotta see the woman
Who I love so well
But than meanwhile I gotta work right here now, huh

Now that's the sound of us mens
When we're working on the chain gang
Oh, it's alright now, well out there

That's the sound of the men
When they're working on the chain gang, ha
That's the sound of the men
When they're working on the chain gang
All day long you hear them, ooh
Man, i'm going home one of these ole days
Man i'm going home
I got to see the woman
Whom I love so dear
But meanwhile I've gotta sit right here now, ha

Now that's the sounds of the mens
Working on the chain gang

Working, we're working
Ah, we're working man
Got to be working
Oh, every day we work a little bit stronger
Every night, man, a few bit longer
Got to be working, man
The time is going up
We got to be working, man

-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Additions & corrections are welcome.

RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/gandy-dancers-linin-track-sound-files.html Gandy Dancers & Linin' Track Sound Files & Videos

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
This post acknowledges all the men who worked on the chain gang. You are not forgotten.

Thanks to the musical legacy of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Thanks also to the uploaders of this featured video and this featured song file.

Thanks for visiting pancocoojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

The Duckworth Chant (Sound Off!) - Information & Examples

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about and examples of the military cadence known as "The Duckworth Chant", "Sound Off!", and "Cadence Count".

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MILITARY CADENCES & THE DUCKWORTH CHANT
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_cadence [hereafter given as wikipedia:Military cadences]
"In the armed services, a military cadence or cadence call is a traditional call-and-response work song sung by military personnel while running or marching. In the United States, these cadences are sometimes called jody calls or jodies, after Jody, a recurring character who figures in some traditional cadences.

As a sort of work song, military cadences take their rhythms from the work being done (compare sea shanty). Many cadences have a call and response structure of which one soldier initiates a line, and the remaining soldiers complete it, thus instilling teamwork and camaraderie for completion. The cadence calls move to the beat and rhythm of the normal speed (quick time) march or running-in-formation (double time) march. This serves the purpose of keeping soldiers "dressed", moving in step as a unit and in formation, while maintaining the correct beat or cadence...

The Duckworth Chant (or Sound Off!)
A V-Disc issued in 1944 credits the origin of Sound Off (The Duckworth Chant) to Private Willie Duckworth, an African American soldier serving in the then segregated US Army.

...as a company ... was returning from a long tedious march through swamps and rough country, a chant broke the stillness of the night. Upon investigation, it was found that an African American soldier by the name of Willie Duckworth, on detached service with the Provisional Training Center, was chanting to build up the spirits of his comrades.

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.

Upon returning to Fort Slocum, Pvt. Duckworth, with the aid of Provisional Training Center instructors, composed a series of verses and choruses to be used with the marching cadence. Since that eventful evening the Duckworth Chant was made a part of the drill at Fort Slocum as it proved to be not only a tremendous morale factor while marching, but also coordinated the movements of close order drill with troop precision.

This original cadence was recorded as "Sound Off:"
Sound-off; 1 - 2; Sound-off; 3 - 4; Cadence count; 1 - 2 - 3 - 4; 1 - 2 — 3 - 4.

This cadence, known as the "Duckworth Chant," still exists with variations in the different branches of the U.S. military. Duckworth's simple chant was elaborated on by Army drill sergeants and their trainees, and the practice of creating elaborate marching chants spread to the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy..

-snip-
From http://home.earthlink.net/~michaelacavanaugh/id3.htmlThe Duckworth Chant, Sound Off, and the Jody Call by Michael & Elizabeth Cavanaugh:
..."The first recorded versions [of what is now known as The Duckworth Chant] appeared on an unnumbered V-Disc (undated, but recorded at the Slocum auditorium, Raymond Hall, sometime in 1945). The V-Disc consists of three different versions of the Duckworth Chant, plus an introductory track by T. Sgt Henry C. “Jack” Felice (1914-2001)"...

..."the phrase “Sound Off” predates 1944 (as the title of a collection of Army songs edited by Edward Arthur Dolph in 1924, reissued in 1942; and even appears as the legend on a WWI-era postcard from Fort Slocum itself)...

Despite parallels or precursors, the fact remains that the Jody is not just any chant, work song, or the like. And the related phrases cited above also do not amount to the Duckworth chant. There is no record of the original chant as developed by Duckworth in mid-1944. As noted in the received narrative cited above, upon returning to post it was quickly embellished and added to; even early on there were significant variations in the verses, and this sort of innovation continues still. But think of the “Duckworth Chant” as like a jazz ballad: there is a basic core, around which the performers can still weave significant improvisations"...

FEATURED EXAMPLES OF THE DUCKWORTH CADENCE & OTHER MILITARY CADENCES THAT INCLUDE SIMILAR WORDS AS THE DUCKWORTH CHANT

WARNING: Websites that contain examples of military cadences often include examples that may be inappropriate for children.

Example #1: THE DUCKWORTH CHANT
Sound-off; 1 – 2
Sound-off; 3 – 4
Cadence count
1 - 2 - 3 - 4; 1 - 2 — 3 - 4.
-composed by Private Willie Duckworth, United States Army, 1944, quoted in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_cadence

****
Example #2: SOUND OFF!
Hib-hub, hib-hub, hib-hub, hib-hub
The heads are up
The chests are out
The arms are swinging
And cadence count
Sound off (sound off)
Sound off (sound off)
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

Enie, Meanie, Minie, Moe
Let's go back and count some more

Sound off (sound off)
Sound off (sound off)
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

I had a good home, but I left (you're right)
I had a good home, but I left (you're right)
Jody was there, when I left (you're right)
Jody was there, when I left (you're right)

Sound off (1-2)
Sound off (3-4)
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

I left gal away out west
I thought this army life was best
Now she's someone elses wife
And I'll be marchin' the rest of my life

Sound off (1-2)
Sound off (3-4)
1-2, 3-4
1-2, (2-3-4)
1-2-3-4, (1-2, 3-4)

The captain rides in a jeep
The sargent rides in a truck
The general rides in a limosine
But we're just out of luck

Sound off
Sound off
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

Hib-hub, hib-hub, hib-hub, hib-hub
The heads are up
The chests are out
The arms are swinging
And cadence count
Sound off (sound off)
Sound off (sound off)
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

Enie, Meanie, Minnie, Moe
And let's go back and count some more

Sound off
Sound off
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

1-2, 3-4)
(1-2, 3-4)
(1-2, 3-4)
Company halt
(1-2, 3-4)
Source: http://www.lyricstime.com/vaughn-monroe-sound-off-lyrics.html

-snip-
Here's more information about this version of "Sound Off!" from wikipedia:Military cadences:
"A musical version of the chant was recorded by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra (Voc.: Vaughn Monroe & Chorus in New York City) on March 7, 1951. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4113A (in USA)and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10086."

"Jody" is "Joe de Grinder" ("Joe The Grinder"), an African American folk character who steals other men's women. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/three-songs-about-joe-grinder.html for a Pancocojams post on "Joe The Grinder".

Here's a video of version of "Sound Off!":

Vaughn Monroe - Sound Off!



janschro | April 18, 2008

Sound off (Duckworth chant) from 1951 ,Vaughn Monroe.
Passing out parade, Pukapunyal, Australia 1969

****
Example #3: YOU HAD A GOOD HOME AND YOU LEFT
You had a good home and you left...YOU'RE RIGHT
You want to go home but you can't.....YOU'RE RIGHT
JODY was there when you left.....YOU'RE RIGHT
JODY was there when you left.....YOU'RE RIGHT
Aint no sense in goin' home, JODY's got you're gal and gone
Hip oh hop oh wring out the mop
Oh left oh right oh left.
-Cranky Yankee, Military Jodies?, http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2915 , May 21, 2001 [remembrance of basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Tex in the winter of 1947-48]

****
Example #4: GI BEANS AND GI GRAVY
GI Beans and GI Gravy,
Gee I wish I'd joined the Navy...
Sound Off....Sound Off....
Sound off 1-2...3-4,
ain't no use in lookin' down,
ain't no discharge on the ground...
Count Cadance, Count Cadence Count Cadence count!
-Tucker, http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=10803 Cadence or Marching Songs, May 9, 1999

****
Example #5: SOUND OFF (If You Like Your Pork Fried Rice)
if you like your pork fried rice
stomp with your left and drag your right.
**stomp drag stomp drag**
sound off"1,2"
sound off"3,4"
"1,2,3,4"

let me here the sound of your left,*stomp*
the sound of your right*stomp*
the sound of em both*stomp stomp*
one more time*stomp stomp*
bring it all down *stomp stomp stomp stomp*
LEFT, YOUR LEFT, YOUR LEFT RIGHT, (SHOUT YOUR COMPANY) FOXTROT!!
-Guest, kara from nyma; Marching song; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8473&messages=45 ; May 6, 2008
-snip-
This blogger didn't explain the asterisks.

****
Example #6: PARTY HARDY (Version #1)
(Army Marching Cadence)

We are ____ platoon
and we like to party
party hardy
party hardy all night long

Your left, your left, your left, right, get on down
Your left, your left, your left, right, get on down
Now drop, and beat your face
___ platoon's gonna rock this place
Boom, check it out, check it out
Boom, check it out, check it out

My rifle, my rucksack, my bayonet, now get on down
My rifle, my rucksack, my bayonet, now get on down
Say one, twwwoooo,
three, four,
Eleven Bravo, hey
Eleven Bravo, hey
- http://www.army-cadence.com/Army-Marching-Cadences.php

****
Example #7: PARTY HARDY (Version #2)
(Air Force Marching Cadence)

We don't like the army
Army don't party,
party hardy
party hardy all night long

We don't like the Navy,
Navy don't party,
party hardy
party hardy all night long

We don't like marines,
Marines don't party
party hardy
party hardy all night long

We don't like the Coast Guard,
Coast Guard don't party
party hardy
party hardy all night long

We like the Air Force,
Air Force can party,
party hardy
party hardy all night long

** Your left, your left, your left, right, get on down
Your left, your left, your left, right, get on down

Now drop, and beat your face
___ flight's gonna rock this place

We said it, we meant it, and now we're here to represent it!
- http://army-cadence.com/Air-Force-Marching-Cadences.php

-snip-
The phrases "party hardy" (meaning "to really party hard"; to have a really good time at a party), "Boom, check it out", "gonna rock this place", and "we said it, we meant it, and we're here to represent it are lifted from African American R&B records and other African American cultural sources. For instance, the phrase "check it out", is found in a number of African American girls' foot stomping cheers.

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
Thanks to Willie Duckworth and others for the contributions to America’s folkloric repertoire. Thanks also to the uploaders of the video featured in this post.

Thanks for visiting Pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.