Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post information about the "Old King Cole" rhyme and the military cadence with that title.
This post also showcases sound file examples and text examples of (United States) "Old King Cole" military cadences.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and featured in these examples.
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This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on military cadences and the first post in an ongoing series on military cadences that include fictitious characters. Click those tags below for additional pancocojams posts in those series.
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INFORMATION ABOUT OLD KING COLE NURSERY RHYME AND MILITARY CADENCE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_King_Cole
" "Old King Cole" is a British nursery rhyme first attested in 1708. Though there is much speculation about the identity of King Cole, it is unlikely that he can be identified reliably as any historical figure. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 1164. The poem describes a merry king who called for his pipe, bowl, and musicians, with the details varying among versions. The "bowl" is a drinking vessel,[1] while the "pipe" may refer either to a musical instrument or to a pipe for smoking tobacco.[2]
[...]
As a marching cadence
The United States military has used versions[10] of the traditional rhyme in the form of marching cadences, since at least the 1920s up to the present. A modern example begins:
Old King Cole was a merry old soul
and a merry ol' soul was he, uh huh.
He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl
and he called for his privates three, uh huh.
Beer! Beer! Beer! cried the private.
Brave men are we
There's none so fair as they can compare
to the airborne infantry, uh huh.
The cadence includes verses for ranks from private to general, in the form of a cumulative song; each verse included a satire at the expense of each rank: "Beer beer beer" said the privates, "Where's my three-day pass" said the corporals, "Drill drill drill" said the sergeant, "Who's gonna read my map" said the looie, "Who's gonna shine my boots" said the captain, "Who's gonna drive my jeep" said the major, "Who's gonna mow my lawn" said the colonel, "Who's gonna walk my dog" said the general. A version of the cadence can be heard on the 1960 album Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall by Harry Belafonte. Another can be found in a 1929 music book, "Sound Off!" Soldier songs from Yankee Doodle to Parley Voo"[11] by Edward Arthur Dolph."...
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SHOWCASE SOUND FILES
Example #1: Old King Cole (The U.S. Air Force)
Various Artists – Topic, Published on Sep 12, 2015
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Old King Cole · The U.S. Air Force
Exercise to the Marching Cadences U.S. Military
℗ 2002 Documentary Recordings
Released on: 2006-02-14
Auto-generated by YouTube.
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transcription*:
Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he.
He called for his wife and he called for his pipe and he called for his colonels three
“How ‘bout a three day pass” said the colonel
“We do all the work” said the major
“Push that paperwork” said the captain
“What do I do now” said the looie
“Left, right, left” said the sergeant
“Beer, beer, beer” said the airman
Great men are we
There’s none so fair that they can compare with the air academy
Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he.
He called for his wife and he called for his pipe and he called for his generals three
Who’s gonna shine my shoes said the generals
“How ‘bout a three day pass” said the colonels
“We do all the work” said the majors
“Push that paperwork” said the captains
“What do I do now” said the looies
“Left, right, left” said the Sergeants
“Beer, beer, beer” said the airmen
Great men are we
There’s none so fair that they can compare with the air academy
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*This is my transcription from this sound file. Additions and corrections are welcome.
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Example #2: Old King Cole (II) [U.S. Army Rangers]
The U.S. Army Rangers – Topic, Published on Feb 5, 2016
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Old King Cole (II) · The U.S. Army Rangers
Exercise to the Marching Cadences U.S. Army Rangers
℗ 1999 Documentary Recordings
Released on: 2002-02-05
Auto-generated by YouTube.
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“none so fair that they can compare with the rangers infantry
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Example #3: Old King Cole (The U.S. Army)
Documentary Recordings, Published on Mar 29, 2018
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"but none so fair that they can compare with the airborne infantry, un hun"
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Example #4: OLD KING COLE - MARCHING CADENCE [The U.S. Marine Corp)
Double Time Records, Published on Jul 24, 2018
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“the army’s fair but it can't compare with the marine corp infantry”.
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ADDITIONAL TEXT EXAMPLES OF THIS CADENCE
These text examples are given in no particular order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1.
From https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-full-version-of-the-Old-King-Cole-Cadence-When-and-why-was-it-popular
Posted by Michael Dixon, Musician, keyboards
Updated Sep 29, 2015
"The Army Cadence goes like this:
Old King Cole
Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for his pipe and called for his bowl
And he called for his privates, three
Beer, Beer, Beer said the privates
Merry men are we
But none so fair that they can compare to the airborne infantry
Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl
and he called for his corporals, three
I need a three-day pass said the corporals
Beer, Beer, Beer said the privates
Merry men are we
But none so fair that they can compare to the airborne infantry
Additional Verses:
Sergeants three--"File from the right, column right said the Sgts"
Lieuues three--"I'll lead the way said the lieuies"
Captains three--"Charge that hill said the captains"
Majors three--"Who's gonna shine my boots said the majors"
Colonels three--"Where's my star said the colonels"
Generals three--"War, War, War"
This cadence is apparently still used in Army Basic Training today. Verses have been changed and added over the years."...
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2.
From https://www.armystudyguide.com/content/Prep_For_Basic_Training/Prep_for_basic_general_information/common-marching-cadence.shtml "Old King Cole"
"Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for his pipe and called for his bowl
And he called for his privates, three
Beer, Beer, Beer said the privates
Merry men are we
But none so fair that they can compare to the airborne infantry
Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl
and he called for his corporals, three
I need a three-day pass said the corporals
Beer, Beer, Beer said the privates
Merry men are we
But none so fair that they can compare to the airborne infantry
Additional Verses:
Sergeants three–“File from the left, column right said the Sgts”
Lieuues three–“I’ll lead the way said the lieuies”
Captains three–“Charge that hill said the captains”
Majors three–“Who’s gonna shine my boots said the majors”
Colonels three–“Where’s my star said the colonels”
Generals three–“War, War, War” "
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