Military Cadences

C-130 rollin’ down the strip
64 Rangers on a one-way trip
Mission Top Secret, destination unknown
They don’t even know if they’re ever coming home
When my plane gets up so high
Paratroopers take to the skies

Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door
My knees got weak and I hit the floor
Jumpmaster picked me up with ease
Tossed my knees into the breeze

Count one-thousand, two-thousand, three-thousand, four
My main opened with a mighty roar
But if my main don’t open wide
I got a reserve by my side
But if that one should fail me too
Look out below I’m a-comin’ through

If I die on the old drop zone
Box me up and ship me home
Pin my wings upon my chest
And then bury me in the leaning rest

Well if I die on a Chinese hill
Take my watch or the commies will
But if I die in the Korean mud
Bury me with a case of Bud

Well if I die on a Chinese hill
Take my watch or the commies will
But if I die in the Korean mud
Bury me with a case of Bud

Saw an old lady running down the street
Had a cute on her back, jump boots on her feet
Said, “Hey old lady where you goin’ to?”
She said “US Army Airborne School”
“Whatcha gonno do when you get there?”
“Jump from a plane, float through the air”
I said “Hey old lady ain’t you been told?
Airborne School’s for the young and the bold”
She said “Hey young punk who you talkin’ to?
I’m an instructor at the Airborne School”

Saw an old lady marching down the road
Had a knife in her hand and a 90lb load
Said, “Hey old lady where you goin’ to?”
She said “US Army Ranger School”
“Whatcha gonna do when you get there?”
“Jump and swim and kill without care”
I said “Hey old lady ain’t you been told?
Ranger School’s for the young and the bold”
She said “Hey young punk who you talkin’ to?
I’m an instructor at the Ranger School”

Saw on old lady running down the track
Had fins on her feet and a tank on her back
Said, “Hey old lady where you goin’ to?”
She said “US Army scuba School”
“Whatcha gonno do when you get there?”
“Swim under water and never breathe air”
I said, “Hey old lady ain’t you been told?
Scuba School’s for the young and the bold”
She said “Hey young punk who you talkin’ to?
I’m an instructor at the Scuba School”

I wanna be an airborne ranger,
Live the life of guts and danger.

Airborne ranger,
Life of danger.

I wanna be a scuba diver,
Swim around in the muddy water.

Scuba diver, muddy water.
Airborne ranger, life of danger.

I wanna be an S.F. medic,
Shoot some funky anisthetic.

S.F.medic, anesthetic.
Scuba diver, muddy water.
Airborne ranger, guts and danger.

And when I retire.

Im gonna be a texas ranger,
Drive around in sking tight wranglers!

Texas ranger, skin tight wranglers.

Im gonna be a UPS man,
Drive around in a ugly brown van.

Ups man, ugly brown van
Texas ranger, skintight wranglers.

Im gonna be a forrest ranger.
Chipmunks are my greatest danger.

Forrest ranger, chipmunk danger.
UPS man, ugly brown van.
Forrest ranger, chipmunk danger.

Left Left oh right left
left right left
keep it in step
but dont let your dingle dangle dangle in the dirt
pick up your dingle dangle put it in your shirt
left left oh right left
left right left
keep it in step
but dont let your dingle dangle dangle in the mud
pick up your dingle dangle hand it to your bud
left left oh right left
left right left
keep it in step
but dont let your dingle dangle dangle in the snow
pick up your dingle dangle tie it in a bow
left left oh right left
left right left
keep it in step
but dont let your dingle dangle to low
pick up your dingle dangle and lets go
left left oh right left
left right left
keep it in step

The lines in italics are to be called by the soldiers in formation.

The roof started leaking and the rain fell on my head
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

I said the roof started leaking and the rain fell on my head
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

Well, my baby done left me, I might as well be dead
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

Well, I’m sittin’ here drinkin’, thinkin’ what I’m gonna do
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

Yeah, I’m sittin’ here drinkin’, thinkin’ what I’m gonna do
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

My baby’s gone and left me, I’m feelin’ mighty blue
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

Well, I talked to the preacher and he said it was a sin
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

Yeah, I talked to the preacher and he said it was a sin
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

I guess that’s because my baby ran off with him
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

Then I called the C-O and who d’ya think answered his phone
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

Yeah, I called up the Captain and who d’ya think answered his phone
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

My baby said she’d gone and found herself a brand new home.
Drip, drop, drippity drop, drop

Caller: Hey lodie dodie
Chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie dodie hey
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: got a letter,in the mail
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: go to war or go to jail
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie dodie
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie dodie hey
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: use to date a girl name jean
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: now i got an m16
chorus: a hey, hey
Caller: now i’m humpin with a pack
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: use to ware my fadded jeans
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: now i’m waring army greens
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie dodie
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie dodie hey
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: ham hocks and collard greens
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: makes a soldier really mean
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: if micheal jackson, were here to day
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: here’s the words, that he would say
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: (in a micheal type tone) He,he,he,he,he
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie dodie hey
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie,hey lodie, hey lodie dodie hey
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: if r kelly were here today
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: here’s the words that he would say
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: i beleive, that i can fly
chorus: a hey, hey
caller:i beleive i can touch the sky.
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie,hey lodie, hey lodie dodie hey
chorus: a hey, hey
caller: hey lodie,hey lodie, hey lodie dodie hey

When I was a little one
My momma told me
Go to the store and………
Get what you need
I got me a Yo-Yo
Wound it up tight
Wound it in the morning
Wound it all night
Wound it in the hall
Wound it on the w–all
I said’a who, huh, what, I gotta Yo-Yo!!!
I said’a who, huh, what, I gotta Yo-Yo!!!

Get yourself a private
Wind him up tight
Smoke him in the morning
Train him all night
Train him in the hall
Train him on the w–all
I said’a who, huh, what, I gotta Yo-Yo!!!
I said’a who, huh, what, I gotta Yo-Yo!!!

Get yourself a sargent
Wind him up tight
Follow in the morning
Dog him all night
Dog him in the hall
Dog him in the w–all
I said’a who, huh, what, I gotta Yo-Yo!!!
I said’a who, huh, what, I gotta Yo-Yo!!!

Me and Superman got into a fight;
hit him in the head with Kryptonite.
I hit him so hard that I busted his brain;
and now I’m dating Lois Lane.

Me and Batman had it out too;
I kicked him in the head with my combat boot.
I kicked him in the head with my left boot heal;
and now I’m driving that Bat-Mobile.

Me and the Hulk went blow for blow;
but I like green so I let him go.
And I guess you’ve heard about a guy named Flash;
we raced around the track ’till he puked in the grass.

Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’
Oh my feet are swollen
Don’t let your dingle dangle dangle in the mud
Pickup your dingle dangle, give it to your bud
Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’
Oh my ankles are swollen
Don’t let your dingle dangle dangle in the dirt
Pickup your dingle dangle, put it in your shirt
Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’
Oh my legs are swollen
Don’t let your dingle dangle dangle on the ground
Pickup your dingle dangle, toss it all around
Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’
Oh my knees are swollen
Don’t let your dingle dangle dangle in the track
Pickup your dingle dangle, put it in your pack

(chorus)
YOUR LEFT, YOUR LEFT, YOUR LEFTTT, RIGHTTTT, LEFTTTT

somebody ain’t goin’ make it,
cause their punie little heart can’t take it

(chorus)
YOUR LEFT, YOUR LEFT, YOUR LEFTTT, RIGHTTTT, LEFTTTT

first sgt ain’t goin’ make it,
cause their punie little heart can’t take it

(chorus)
YOUR LEFT, YOUR LEFT, YOUR LEFTTT, RIGHTTTT, LEFTTTT

LT ain’t goin’ make it,
cause their punie little heart can’t take it

My home is Ft. Benning,
The land that time forgo-ot.
The mud is 18 inches deep,
The sun is blazing ho-ot.
(Air,bor,or,or,orn Rang er,er,er-er-er)
Sitting on a hilltop,
Eatin beans & fra-anks.
When all of a sudden,
The bullets start to cra-ank.
(Air,bor,or,or,orn Rang er,er,er-er-er)
Sitting in my foxhole,
My boots are caked with mu-ud.
Look over at my buddy,
His face is caked with blood.
(Air,bor,or,or,orn Rang er,er,er-er-er)
You go to get yer Captain,
You find him in his be-ed.
But when you roll him over,
You find that he’s dead.
(Air,bor,or,or,orn Rang er,er,er-er-er)
You go to get yer Sgt,
You find him in his be-ed.
And when you roll him over,
He slaps you in the head
(Air,bor,or,or,orn Rang er,er,er-er-er)
You hear the choppers coming,
They’re hoverin overhead.
They’ve come to get the wounded,
They’ve come to get the dead.
(Air,bor,or,or,orn Rang er,er,er-er-er)
You see the flag awaivin,
It’s waiving overhead.
It’s waiving for the wounded,
It’s waiving for the dead.
(Air,bor,or,or,orn Rang er,er,er-er-er)

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that rifle in my hand
I’m gonna be a shootin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that knife in my hand
I’m gonna be a cuttin’ man
A cuttin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that grenade in my hand
I’m gonna be a killin’ man
A killin’ man
A cuttin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that bottle in my hand
I’m gonna be a drinkin’ man
A drinkin’ man
A killin’ man
A cuttin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that book in my hand
I’m gonna be a studyin’ man
A studyin’ man
A drinkin’ man
A killin’ man
A cuttin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Down by the river
I took a little walk
Ran into the enemy
We had a little talk

I didn’t like their attitude
Didn’t like the way they walked

So I pushed em
I shoved em
I threw em in the river
laughed as they drowned

We don’t need the enemy
Hangin, hangin, hangin around

(chorus)
Heyyyy, don’t be a fool
Somebody said we we number two
We’re number one

Noooo, not number five
Not number four number three, number two
We’er number one

Up in the morning, outta the rack
Greeted at dawn with an early attack
First Sergeant rushes me off to chow
But I dont need it anyhow

Hail O’ Hail O’ Infantry
Queen of battle follow me
An airborne rangers life for me
O’ nothing in this world is free

From a big bird in the sky
All will jump and some will die
Off to battle we will go
To live or die, hell I dont know

Hail O’ Hail O’ Infantry
Queen of battle follow me
An airborne rangers life for me
O’ nothing in this world is free

Early at night its drizzilin’ rain
I am hit and feel no pain
But in my heart I have no fear
Because my ranger God is here

Hail O’ Hail O’ Infantry
Queen of battle follow me
An airborne rangers life for me
O’ nothing in this world is free

The mortars and artillery
The screaming bursts around me
Jagged shrapnel on the fly
Kills my buddy, makes me cry

Hail O’ Hail O’ Infantry
Queen of battle follow me
An airborne rangers life for me
O’ nothing in this world is free

One, Two, Three, Your Left
Hooah
One, Two, Three, Four
AIRBORNE (Loud and thunderous)

Hi ho, lock and load
The engines are running we’re ready to go
To kill the enemy, take control
So early in the morning

M-1s on the hill
The tank commander is ready to kill
He gives the order “fire at will”
So early in the morning

Bradleys are moving slow
You see him stop and raise the TOW
To hit them with that fatal blow
So early in the morning

Apaches fill the sky
The F-16s go zooming by
The enemy is about to die
So early in the morning

Sniper on the ground
He’s moving in without a sound
He locks and loads a single round
So early in the morning

Tracers flying overhead
While the cooks are sleeping in their beds
But they don’t know they’ll soon be dead
So early in the morning

Gas gas don your mask
You pray to god it’s just a test
Cuz if it’s not you’ll shit your pants
So early in the morning

Hi Ho Lock and Load
The sound of the Radar is loud and bold
14 Echoes are ready to roll
So early, so early, so early in the morning

Outta my rack at a Quarter to Four
The Captain yells We’re Going to War
Grabbed my ruck on my way out the door
So early in the morning

Grabbed my dispatch, grabbed my keys
A Tangos crying on his knees
The tanks are full, we’re heading out
So early, so early, so early in the morning

Emplace the Big Four there and now
The Launchers stuck I don’t know how
All Tangos do is drive and drive
So early in the morning

Prime Powers up, the Radars done
Echoes are out just having fun
The Chock Blocks (Tangos) are digging
The excitements begun
So early in the morning

Finally the launchers up
The fibers in, that’s just plain luck
The ICC is happy now
So early in the morning

Monitor both day and night
Blasting Scuds from left to right
14 Echoes lead the way
So early, so early, so early in the morning

I hear the choppers coming,
They’re flying overhead.
They’ve come to get the wounded,
They’ve come to get the dead.

(chorus)

My buddy’s in a foxhole,
A bullet in his head,
The medic says he is wounded,
But I know that he’s dead

(chorus)

I ran to tell the CO
About my buddy’s head
But when I got there,
The CO was dead

(chorus)

And now the battle’s over,
and smoke is all around.
We wanted to go home,
But we’re six feet underground.

(chorus)

Your mother was home when you left *your right!
Your father was home when you left *your right!
your sister was home when you left *your right!
your brother was home when you left *your right!

your mother, your father, your sister, your brother,
the dog, the cat, the fish, the rat, your aunt, your uncle, and both of your cousins, your papa, your granny, the maid, the nanny, they all was home when you left *your right!
And thats the reason you left* your right!

I left my hoooome /for the army/
I left my hoooome/ for the army/
the day I leeeeft/my mama criiied/
she thought that IIII/was gonna diiie/
I left my wiiife/ standin at the dooooor/
she thought that IIIIII/would die at waaaar/
I left my soooooon/ playin in the yaaard/
to see his daddy leeaave/ made him cry so haaaard/
the day I leeeeft/I shook my daddy’s haaand/
He said that IIIIII/ had become a maaaaan/
oowie oowiiieeeee/ oowiie owieeeeeeeee/
oowie oowieeeeeee/ oowie owieeeeeeeeeeeeee/

(Chorus) Lowrider lowrider left right left – Singin lowrider lowrider get in step

Mama told Johnny not to go downtown
There were too many airborne recruiters around
But Johnny didn’t listen and he went anyway
He shipped for the Army the very next day

(Chorus)

Johnny had a girl and her name was Carrie
She was happy cuz they planned to marry
But Johnny wanted to live the life of danger
And wear the black beret of the airborne ranger

(Chorus)

Johnny jumped in to Vietnam
Cuz he wanted to kill the Viet Cong
Johnny jumped on a hand grenade
To save the lives of the friends he made

(Chorus)

Now Johnny didn’t know it but he was a father
He gave his son the Medal of Honor
Johnny came home in a flag drapped coffin
The bugle was playin and the tears were droppin

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Privates three.
Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Privates.

(Chorus)
What merry men are we!
but none so fair that we can compare to the Airborne Infantry!

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Corporals three.
I need a three day pass said the Corporal
Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Privates.

(chorus)

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Sergeants three.
Left right left said the Sergeant.
I need a three day pass said the Corporal
Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Privates.

(Chorus)

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his El Tee’s three.
What do I do now? Said the El Tee.
Left right left said the Sergeant.
I need a three day pass said the Corporal
Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Privates.

(Chorus)

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Captains three.
Who’s gonna drive my Hummer? Said the Captain
What do I do now? Said the El Tee.
Left right left said the Sergeant.
I need a three day pass said the Corporal
Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Privates.

(Chorus)

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Majors three.
I need a bigger desk said the major.
Who’s gonna drive my Hummer? Said the Captain
What do I do now? Said the El Tee.
Left right left said the Sergeant.
I need a three day pass said the Corporal
Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Privates.

(Chorus)

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Colonels three.
When can I play golf? Said the Colonel.
I need a bigger desk said the major.
Who’s gonna drive my Hummer? Said the Captain.
What do I do now? Said the El Tee.
Left right left said the Sergeant.
I need a three day pass said the Corporal
Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Privates.

(Chorus)

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Generals three.
Keep those Privates straight! Said the Generals
When can I play golf? Said the Colonel.
I need a bigger desk said the major.
Who’s gonna drive my Hummer? Said the Captain.
What do I do now? Said the El Tee.
Left right left said the Sergeant.
I need a three day pass said the Corporal
Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Privates.

(chorus)
(chorus)