# More outlawed marching cadences **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062 "2005-08-22T02:19:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062/41 "2019-09-27T12:51:05Z")
A brief word about cadences and the military. I recall being exposed to them early on in boot camp and thinking ‘huh, that’s kinda crass’, but then it occurred to me they serve a purpose beyond regulating a cadence and that’s to serve as a component of military culture and the required mindset. When platoons of young men are running around singing “if my 'chute don’t blossom round, I’ll be killing commies all the way down” or the yellow birdie song, or any number of other ditties that are premised on treating violence in a casual way, the unspoken message that’s being conveyed is: _you are now serving in a organization that exists to kill people. Your mission is to terminate the lives of those you are directed to by using whatever violent means that are necessary. Sing out. Join in the chorus, and get used to this idea. Embrace it, because that’s ultimately why you are here. Violence is the tool of your trade and death is the desired outcome. No point being squeamish about it._ ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062/42 "2019-09-27T13:44:14Z")
I guess a chorus of [“Dead Puppies”](https://youtu.be/Ak0_fa1DDpc?t=19) would be in poor taste as well? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062/43 "2019-09-28T03:43:25Z")
Ah, the memories. My Daddy taught the lil’wrekker many cadence calls. They were all nasty. The summer before she started kindergarten was spent un-learning them.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062/44 "2019-09-28T17:57:08Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > A brief word about cadences and the military. I recall being exposed to them early on in boot camp and thinking ‘huh, that’s kinda crass’, but then it occurred to me they serve a purpose beyond regulating a cadence and that’s to serve as a component of military culture and the required mindset. When platoons of young men are running around singing “if my 'chute don’t blossom round, I’ll be killing commies all the way down” or the yellow birdie song, or any number of other ditties that are premised on treating violence in a casual way, the unspoken message that’s being conveyed is: _you are now serving in a organization that exists to kill people. Your mission is to terminate the lives of those you are directed to by using whatever violent means that are necessary. Sing out. Join in the chorus, and get used to this idea. Embrace it, because that’s ultimately why you are here. Violence is the tool of your trade and death is the desired outcome. No point being squeamish about it._ I was always impressed by > [@](#): > > Tiens, voilà du boudin, voilà du boudin, voilà du boudin > Pour les Alsaciens, les Suisses et les Lorrains, > Pour les Belges, y en a plus, Pour les Belges, y en a plus, > Ce sont des tireurs au cul. > > Nous sommes des dégourdis, > Nous sommes des lascars > Des types pas ordinaires. > Nous avons souvent notre cafard, > Nous sommes des légionnaires. > > Au Tonkin, la Légion immortelle > À Tuyen-Quang illustra notre drapeau, > Héros de Camerone et frères modèles > Dormez en paix dans vos tombeaux. > > Nos anciens ont su mourir. > Pour la gloire de la Légion. > Nous saurons bien tous périr > Suivant la tradition. > > Au cours de nos campagnes lointaines, > Affrontant la fièvre et le feu, > Oublions avec nos peines, > La mort qui nous oublie si peu. > Nous la Légion. Kind of gets the point across. (IMO, better than songs about killing puppies and fornicating with local women.) ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062/45 "2019-09-28T21:05:23Z")
Back when I was in the Marine Corps, our usual morning PT route went on a road adjacent to base housing. One morning before a battalion run, 1st Sgt. gives a very 1st. Sgt.-y talk to the company. Apparently there had been some comlaints about the subject matter and language used in some cadences within 10’ from the backyards. So the ass chewing included the line “so while we’re out there, I don’t want to hear any goddamn ‘cocksucker-motherfucker-eattabaggashit’.” So while we’re running by housing… the guy calling cadence busts out “COCKSUCKER, MOTHERFUCKER, EAT A BAG A SHIT.” I seriously thought the Lt. was going to punch him. But you have to admit, the meter of that line is perfect for a running cadence. ---
**Author:** ![SSgt.Melton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@SSgt.Melton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgt.Melton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062/46 "2025-05-09T02:03:28Z")
Here’s one we used to sing on runs at Camp Lejeune in the 80’s. (Casey Jones) Casey jones was a son of a bitch Parked his train in a whore house ditch Jumped off the train with his dick in his hand, said excuse me ladies I’m a railroad man Lined a hundred up against the wall Bet twenty bucks he could fuck them all Fucked 98 til his balls turned blue Then he backed off, jacked off and fucked the other two Now Casey died and he went to Hell Fucked the devils wife till she begin to swell two little devils hanging on the wall said kill him pop before he fucks us all. ---
**Author:** ![SSgt.Melton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@SSgt.Melton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgt.Melton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062/47 "2025-05-09T02:07:35Z")
Here’s another The Prettiest Girl (Marching Cadence) The prettiest girl I ever saw was sipping bourbon through a straw I walked right up I sat right down and ordered up another round I placed my hand upon her knee she said Marine you’re teasing me I placed my hand upon her thigh she said Marine you’re way too high I picked her up and laid her down her long blonde hair was all around I pushed it in I pulled it out it felt so good it made me shout The wedding was a formal one Her Daddy had a white shotgun And now I have a mother in law and fourteen kids who call me paw The moral of the story is clear instead of bourbon stick to beer ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062/48 "2025-05-10T16:29:05Z")
In The Clovers’ version (1952), the drink that caused all the trouble was a mint julep. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/26QLKst877A/maxresdefault.jpg "One Mint Julep (2007 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26QLKst877A) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-outlawed-marching-cadences/318062.md?page=2)