# Hey hey! Ho ho! protest rhythm? got to know! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-hey-ho-ho-protest-rhythm-got-to-know/581353 "2011-05-10T01:05:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-hey-ho-ho-protest-rhythm-got-to-know/581353/1 "2011-05-10T01:05:22Z")
Listening to the Arab protesters chants this February, I noticed that several of their chants used the same cadence that goes back to at least the 80s but most likely much much earlier. This same rhythm has also been used in Latin American chants as well as of course American protests. What’s the first example of such a protest chant? It can be any words as long as it fits the meter of Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Thing I hate has got to go! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-hey-ho-ho-protest-rhythm-got-to-know/581353/2 "2011-05-10T01:38:10Z")
Well, I know that “‘Ma! Ma! Where’s my pa?’ 'Gone to the White House! Ha, ha, ha!” AND “Blaine! Blaine! James G. Blaine! Continental Liar from the State of Maine!” both go back to the Grover Cleveland administration. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-hey-ho-ho-protest-rhythm-got-to-know/581353/3 "2011-05-11T11:07:52Z")
It’s probably rather old, as it’s just 1-2-3-4 1&2&3&4. It’s one measure of straight beats, and one measure of double timed beats, stopping one beat early to give a sense of finality. The second measure adds intensity. Oh, and “U-G-L-Y, You ain’t got no alibi.” It’s cheerleader stuff. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-hey-ho-ho-protest-rhythm-got-to-know/581353/4 "2011-05-11T17:15:51Z")
The anti-war protesters had chants like this in the 60’s. “Hell No I won’t Go” is one I’ve heard in documentaries. I’m sure there’s many more. Chants and songs were a huge part of that movement. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-hey-ho-ho-protest-rhythm-got-to-know/581353/5 "2011-05-11T22:00:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The anti-war protesters had chants like this in the 60’s. > > “Hell No I won’t Go” is one I’ve heard in documentaries. I’m sure there’s many more. Chants and songs were a huge part of that movement. Famously, “Hey hey LBJ how many kids did you kill today?” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-hey-ho-ho-protest-rhythm-got-to-know/581353/6 "2011-05-11T22:13:11Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Famously, > > “Hey hey > LBJ > how many kids did you kill today?” Also from the Vietnam era, _Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh The NLF is going to win!_