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Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Let Em Blow, Let Em Blow- United States Navy Cadence (YouTube video, lyrics, and comments)



Qris Davis, Dec. 24, 2013

One of the few Navy Cadences I like. #TunedUpTuesday #ICanOnlyGetBetter

via YouTube Capture

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of  a three part pancocojams series that presents examples of the United States military cadence entitled "Four Winds" (also known as  "Let The Four Winds Blow" and "Let 'Em Blow. Let 'Em Blow".

This post presents information about the 1955 New Orleans Rhythm & Blues song "Let The Four Winds Blow" that is the source of these military cadence.

Part II also showcases a United States navy version of that cadence along with the lyrics which the  video's publisher shared for that version. Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are also included in that post.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/11/united-states-army-examples-of-four.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. Part I presents information about the 1955 New Orleans Rhythm & Blues song "Let The Four Winds Blow" that is the source of these United States military cadences. Part I also showcases an embedded sound file of a United States army version of that "Four Winds" cadence as well as my transcription of that sound file. This post also provides links to three YouTube videos that feature other army versions of that cadence.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/11/let-em-blow-let-em-blow-united-states.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. Part III showcases another sound file of "Let 'Em Blow Let Em Blow" and presents my transcription of that version. Part III also presents two other (words only) versions of that cadence from other United States military forces besides the U.S. army and the U.S. navy. 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino for composing the source song for these United States military cadences. Thanks to all those who composed these cadences and thanks to Qris Davis for publishing this video on YouTube.

Thanks also to all those who serve honorably in the United States armed services. 

Happy Veteran's Day!

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW ORLEANS R&B SONG "LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW"

1st RECORDING OF: Let The Four Winds Blow (as 'Four Winds') - Dave Bartholomew (1955)

the45prof, Jul 8, 2019

"Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bartholomew was an influential New Orleans-based musician, bandleader, arranger, record producer, and co-writer with Fats Domino of some 40 song hits. Dave’s version of this tune didn’t create a stir in 1955, but it would provide hit material for both Roy Brown in 1957 https://youtu.be/ZOyBJeYzqAA and Fats in 1961https://youtu.be/DGoSPqLUais .

The original single was issued on Imperial 5350 - Four Winds (Bartholomew-Domino) by Dave Bartholomew, recorded March 15, 1955 "
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVwFpdvls60&ab_channel=JazzEveryday%21 for a sound file of "Let The Four Winds Blow" performed by Fats Domino.  

Here's an excerpt about Fats Domino's recording of "Let The Four Winds Blow" from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ6Ny4VCSpM&ab_channel=OfficialFATSDominoFANSITE
… "After "Walking To New Orleans"'(6) and "My Girl Josephine"(14), this was his biggest smash in the 60's.

Entering the POP-charts on July 24, 1961, it peaked at POS. 15 ("Three Nights A Week"and equalled that POS. but the b-side spent a week less). "Blow" spent 11 weeks on the charts, making it his very last TOP-20 hit.

On the R&B-charts things went even better. It debuted on July 31, 1961 and reached POS. 2(!), making it his very last blockbuster on that chart. It stayed 12 weeks on the charts."
-snip-
Both Dave Bartholomew (December 24, 1918 – June 23, 2019) and Fats Domino (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017) were African American.
-snip-
Click https://genius.com/Fats-domino-let-the-four-winds-blow-lyrics for the lyrics to the song "Let The Four Winds Blow". Here's the "let the four winds blow" verse that is found several times in that R&B song:

"Let the four winds blow
Let 'em blow let 'em blow
From the east to the west
I'll love you the best"
-snip-

Notice that very similar verses are found in "Four Winds" military cadences.

Also, read my comment below for a similar verse that is found in a university stomp and shake cheerleading cheer. It's more likely that that cheer has its source in these "Four Wind" military cadences, but those cadences ultimately can be sourced to the 1955 "Let The Four Winds Blow" R&B song.  

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LYRICS FOR THIS VERSION OF "FOUR WINDS" (also known as "LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW" or  "LET 'EM BLOW')

Let em blow, let em blow
Let the 4 winds blow
From the east to the west
The mighty Navy is the best


Standing tall and looking good
Ought to march in Hollywood
Hold your head and hold it high
division/unit/fleet number is marching by


Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Hey hey hey
Oh oh oh oh


Dress it right and cover down
40 inches all around
6 to the front, and 3 to the rear
That's the way we do it here


Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Hey hey hey
The U.S. Navy is the best

-snip-
Qris Davis shared the words to this version of this cadence in response to this request:

Sarah McKenzie, 2017
"My daughter has been tasked with learning this cadence for her NJROTC program.  I don't give her access to the internet due to... well the world today to be honest.  Could you provide me with your lyrics?  I don't know that you will see this but it's worth a shot.  Thanks, Mama of a future Airman!!!"

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OTHER SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. Laurin Robinson, 2015
"I'm over here drooling. Boy, you better sang!!!!!"

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2. Lance Fletcher, 2015
"You've got a killer voice, man. Good stuff."

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3. Ted23 LT, 2016
"Hell yeah bud U.S Navy is the Best!"

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4. freeyourmind775, 2016
"This is an Army Cadence..."

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REPLY
5. Qris Davis, 2016
"I learned it in Navy boot camp man... I don't know the origins."

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6. Thomas Heisler, 2017

"as a navy veteran, outstanding job sailor"

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REPLY
7. Qris Davis, 2017
"Thank you man! And thank you for your service!"

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8. Caleb Brown, 2018
"I remember that one except we said 140's marching by. But either way Hooyah Navy!"

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9. Tyler Schwartzy, 2018
"Bro, this was a lost golden cadence from my bootcamp days!!! Love it and keep it up!!"

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REPLY
10. Qris Davis, 2018
"Tyler Schwartzy Same bro. Thanks!"

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11. Danielle Lisman, 2019
"Great job!!!! #futuresailor"

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REPLY
12. Qris Davis, 2019
"Danielle Lisman I appreciate it! Good luck to you. Keep in mind that boot camp is all mental. Stay strong!"

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REPLY
13. Danielle Lisman, 2019
"Qris Davis thank you! I will remember this! 😊👍🏽💪🏽"

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14. Anancy-9, 2020
"The SOUL in this song is palpable and I live for it"

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REPLY
15. Qris Davis, 2020
"Anancy-9 I appreciate you!"

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16. marcus hall, 2020
"As a Army soldier you did your thing 🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿"

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REPLY
17. Qris Davis, 2020
"marcus hall I appreciate you man. 👌🏿👌🏿"

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This concludes Part II of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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4 comments:

  1. Azizi PowellNovember 11, 2020 at 10:35 AM

    Here's a comment that I wrote to the publisher of this showcased video:
    Azizi Powell
    23 minutes ago (edited)
    "@Qris Davis, thank you so much for sharing this version of this United States cadence. And thank you and other people commenting for your service.

    I'm an African American (self described) community folkloric who is particularly interested in documenting and sharing examples of African American rhymes, cheers, chants, cadences, and folk songs. I took the liberty of showcasing your video and selected comments from this discussion thread on this pancocojams series about this cadence: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/11/let-em-blow-let-em-blow-navy-cadence.html
    This is Part II of that three part series. Part I showcases a US army version of this "Let The Four Winds Blow" cadence and Part III will feature several text examples of this cadence from other branches of the US military. (One of those examples comes from this video's discussion thread).

    Off topic: I strongly agree with a number of commenters who complimented you on your soulful delivery of this cadence. I believe this example sounds very much like a historically Black Greek letter fraternity chant. Also, with all due respect, I'm curious if the "Q" in "Qris" is a nod to the historically Black Greek letter fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Inc.

    Thanks again, and Be Blessed!"

    ****
    Here's a response from Qris Davis three minutes after I posted that comment:
    "No problem!

    Thank you for selecting this video to be a part of your project! I’ll have to check it out.

    I appreciate your kind words! That’s exactly where the Q came from. I chose the name back when I wanted to join the fraternity while I was attending Texas Southern University, but I left before I had the chance. Good catch!"

    You be blessed also."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Azizi PowellNovember 11, 2020 at 10:45 AM

      Here's my response to Qris Davis:
      "@Qris Davis Greetings!
      I appreciate your quick response.

      FYI, I believe that the "Let em blow" ("Four Winds") military cadences have their source in the New Orleans R&B song "Let The Four Winds Blow" which was composed by Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino. The first recording of that song was in 1955.

      Btw: I subscribed to your account before I read your response. :o)

      Off topic: The "Q" beginning of your first name was something I noticed because I'm interested in documenting, studying, and sharing examples of historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority culture (particularly chants, stepping and strolling traditions). I'm a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, but I've been inactive a loooooong time.

      Qris, thanks again and keep on keepin on!!"

      Delete
    2. Azizi PowellNovember 11, 2020 at 2:52 PM

      I believe that the 1955 "Let The Four Winds Blow" R&B song (or more likely the "Four Winds" military cadence which is still chanted in the 2000s) is the source for the Virginia State University stomp and shake cheer "Who Shakes The Best".

      That cheer has been "stolen" and performed by countless numbers of high school cheerleading squads and other pre-university cheerleading squads.

      I showcased a Virginia State University video of that cheer and included its lyrics in this 2012 pancocojams post https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/stomp-shake-cheerleading-who-cheers.html.

      Here are the lyrics to that cheer

      WHO SHAKES THE BEST
      "Shake it to the east.
      Shake it to the west.
      It really doesn't matter who shakes the best.
      Shake it to the east.
      Shake it to the west.
      It really doesn't matter who shakes the best.
      Shake it to the east.
      Shake it to the west.
      Cause everybody knows that we shake the best."

      Delete
    3. Azizi PowellNovember 12, 2020 at 10:29 AM

      I should also note that early (or the earliest?) documented examples of the "east/west/best" rhyming pattern are the "Little Sally Walker ("Waters"; "Water"; "Ann") nursery rhymes.

      Here's information about the history of those rhymes from the Traditional Ballad Index (quoted in this Mudcat folk music discussion thread: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=83749#1541520 by Joe Offer
      Date: 15 Aug 05 - 08:17 PM

      "Little Sally Walker
      DESCRIPTION: "Little Sally Walker, sitting in (a saucer), Cryin' (for the old man to come for the dollar), (Ride, Sally, Ride). (Fly) to the east, (fly) to the west, (Fly) to the one that you love best."
      AUTHOR: unknown
      EARLIEST DATE: 1898 (Gomme)
      KEYWORDS: playparty courting
      FOUND IN: US(South) Ireland Britain(England(All),Scotland(Aber),Wales)"...
      -end of quote-
      Here's the version I remember reciting during my childhood in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the early 1950s:

      "Little Sally Ann
      Sitting in the sand
      A-weeping and a-crying
      For a nice young man
      Rise, Sally, rise
      Wipe your little eyes
      Turn to the east
      And turn to the west
      And turn to the one
      That you love best"
      -snip-

      Delete

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