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 guess a chorus of “Dead Puppies” would be in poor taste as well?
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.
I was always impressed by
Kind of gets the point across. (IMO, better than songs about killing puppies and fornicating with local women.)
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.
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.
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
In The Clovers’ version (1952), the drink that caused all the trouble was a mint julep.
