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In the , these cadences are sometimes called jody calls or '''jodies''', after ''Jody'', a Recurring Character who figures in some traditional cadences. Requiring no instruments to play, they are counterparts in oral Military Folklore of the military March . As a sort of work song, military cadences take their Rhythm s from the work being done (compare '' Sea Shanty ''.) Many cadences have a Call And Response structure; one soldier initiates a line, and the remaining soldiers complete it. HISTORY The word "cadence" was applied to these chants because of an earlier meaning, in which it meant the number of steps a marcher or runner took per minute. The cadence was set by a drummer or sergeant, and discipline was extremely important as keeping the cadence directly affected the travel speed of infantry. There were other purposes: the ''close-order drill'' was a particular cadence count for the complex sequence of loading and firing a musket. In the Revolutionary War , Baron Von Steuben notably imported European battlefield techniques which persist, greatly modified, to this day. Cadences also instill teamwork and camaraderie. Oral tradition credits the origin of the modern cadence tradition within the United States Army to Private Willie Duckworth; according to this story, in May of 1944 , while returning to base with his exhausted unit, he began singing or chanting the first cadence, "Sound Off:" Sound-off; 1 - 2; Sound-off; 3 - 4; Count cadence; 1 - 2 - 3 - 4; 1 - 2 — 3 - 4. This cadence, known as the "Duckworth Chant," exists with some variations in many different branches of the U.S. military. Duckworth's simple chant soon was elaborated by folk tradition among Drill Sergeant s and the soldiers under their command, and the tradition of creating elaborate marching chants or songs spread to other branches of the military. As soon as 1952 , the U.S. Army adopted '' The Army Goes Rolling Along '' as its service Theme Song , with the lyric "count off the cadence loud and strong" a reference to Duckworth's cadence. Its melody and lyrics derive from the traditional ''When the Caisson s Go Rolling Along''. A common United States Marine Corps cadence goes: :Way back when at the dawn of time. :In the heart of Death Valley where the sun don't shine. :The roughest toughest fighter ever known was made. :From an M-16 and a live Grenade . :He was a lean mean green fighting machine. :He proudly bore the title of US Marine. Another well-loved and well-used US Marines cadence goes: :Up from a sub 60 feet below, :When we hit the surface, we'll be ready to go. :Side-stroke, back-stroke, swim to the shore, :When we hit the beach, we're ready for war. :Grease gun, K-bar by my side, :These are the tools that make men die. Another well-loved and well-used US Marines cadence goes: :I wish all the ladies were pies on a shelf :and I was a baker I'd eat em all myself. :I wish all the ladies were bricks in a pile :and I was a mason I'd lay em all with style. :I wish all the ladies were bells in a tower :and I was a bell boy I'd bang em every hour. :I wish all the ladies were holes in a road :and I was a dump truck I'd fill em with my load. Police personnel who train in para-military fashion also have acquired the tradition for its recruits in the Police Academy . However, the "lyrics" are changed for law enforcement, for example: :A six gun a tin star a horse named Blue. :In 1890 a cop held these true. :In 1930 the Thompson Gun . :It made police work a lot more fun. :A big block Dodge Polara Pursuit . :In 1960 it came out of the chute. :We got night vision on our MP5 . :These are the tools that keep ''us'' alive. :In 20 years who knows what it will be. : Phaser guns mounted on my HumVee . :From a horse named Blue to a big HumVee :We'll still PT in the Academy! :(Last line yelled) "JODY CALLS" In the United States, these songs get the name ''jody call'' or ''jody'' (also ''jodie'') from a recurring character, a Civilian named "Jody" whose luxurious lifestyle is contrasted with military deprivations in a number of traditional calls. Jody is the person who stays at home, drives the soldier's car, and gets the soldier's sweetheart while the soldier is in Recruit Training or '' In Country ''. (Serendipitously, the name works just as well for female soldiers.) Common themes in jodies include:
One example used in the army: :My honey heard me comin on my left right on left :I saw Jody runnin on his left right on left :I chased after Jody and I ran him down :Poor ole boy doesn't feel good now :M.P.s came a runnin on their left right on left :The medics came a runnin on their left right on left :He felt a little better with a few I.V.s :Son I told you not to mess with them ELEVEN Bs (the designation for infantry in the Army) One from the Corps: :Jody, Jody six feet four :Jody never had his ass kicked before. :I'm gonna take a three-day pass :And really slap a beating on Jody's ass! Another from the Corps, easily adapted to other branches: :If I die in a combat zone :box me up and ship me home :put me in a set of dress blues :comb my hair and shine my shoes :pin my medals upon my chest :tell my mama I done my best :ma, mama don't you cry :Marine Corps motto is do or die Obscene , Scatological , politically incorrect and offensively violent jody calls exist; their official use in formal training is now discouraged by the U.S. military, with an emphasis on "clean" versions of traditional jodies. The flexibility of jodies is nearly unlimited, and old jodies have always been retired or rewritten as times and War s change. An example of one such call is the first stanza of ''Yellow Bird'': :A yellow bird with a yellow bill :Was perched upon my window sill :I lured him in with a piece of bread :And then I smashed his little head EXTERNAL LINKS |
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