Folk rhyme used in the military to coordinate the marching of soldiers. Also termed cadence calls, their two basic tempos correspond to the two main speeds of march, quick time and double time, but rhythmic variation is possible. George G. Carey noted six distinct metric patterns for double-time chants alone in studying cadence calls in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Since any song lyric in 2/2, 2/4, or 4/4 time can be appropriated for use in the chants in performance, the possible variation in rhyme schemes is great. And since, like sea chanties, track-lining songs, and field hollers, cadence chants help time the physical actions of a group and lessen the energy they expend, it is not surprising that they have the same pattern of oral delivery—a solo line with a choral response. Also not surprisingly, the words “left” and “right” often appear as the appropriate foot touches down, as in: Solo (leader): “You had a good home but you left.” Group (soldiers): “You’re right!” The subject matter of the chants varies from approval to criticism of military life and may function to build esprit de corps, complain about conditions and treatment, or lament the loss of civilian niceties; the variation here usually depends on whether the solo leader is a private soldier, an officer or a noncommissioned officer (NCO), a draftee, or a volunteer. The folk character Jody, a mythical civilian who takes advantage of soldiers’ absence to appropriate their cars, clothes, and girlfriends or wives, appears in many cadence chants.
Thomas E.Barden
References
Burke, Carol. 1989. Marching to Vietnam. Journal of American Folklore 102:424–441. Carey, George G. 1965. A Collection of Airborne Cadence Chants. Journal of American Folklore 78:52–61.