Folklore: jodies

Subject: Folklore: calling cadence
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 12:37 PM

You all may know this already, but I had fun reading this: http://missourifolkloresociety.truman.edu/Missouri%20Folklore%20Studies/Cadence%20Calls.htm

Everything's got a history!

Dani

Subject: RE: Folklore: jodies
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 01:01 PM

Great link, Dani.

Subject: RE: Folklore: jodies
From: Joe_F
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 08:03 PM

I read long ago, and Google will confirm, that "Jody" is short for "Jody Grinder", a distortion of "Joe the Grinder", a generic name in prison & army for the man who is carrying on with your girl back home. "Grind" is slang for fuck.

Subject: RE: Folklore: jodies
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 08:51 PM

It is a great link, although I believe it's possible Lineberry sometimes tries too hard to find meaning when a line is just there.

I remember when I was in S Korea during joint exercises and hearing the (mostly) Army guys singing for PT. Also in Kuwait. I figured, because they usually only sang when they ran in these places, one would have to run along behind them with a tape recorder to collect the songs.

The nice thing about military cadences is they never have been, and likely never will be, influenced by collectors or folklorists. The songs pop up in enormous numbers and variation, and people sing whatever they want. So "Doo Wah Diddy" gets adopted because it's in "Stripes" and the guys like it, or somebody writes a whole new song and the guys like it. Of course, the standards will remain

Subject: RE: Folklore: jodies
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 10 Nov 13 - 05:27 PM

I have a cd of these, and they ARE recorded live. Here are some: http://www.amazon.com/Run-Cadence-U-S-Army-Airborne/dp/B00005OCZI

They're a snippet in time, of course, and you can tell the different guys they recorded have different collections in their heads.

It gives you an idea how HARD it must be to run, boots-and-pack, probably, and this guy is SINGING! BELTING, and making THEM sing! Now clap your hands! I actually use them when I run for an extra kick in the ass. They're short, and I have vowed never to stop running when one plays. Very motivational : )

Bet there's a book out there... would love to learn more about the evolution (folk process?) here throughout military history.

Dani

Subject: RE: Folklore: jodies
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Nov 13 - 05:41 PM

One of my clearest memories from recruit school is trotting along a frozen road with my rifle and pack rattling and my breath sawing as we all sang " When the Red, Red Robin goes Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along". It was our corporal's favourite, followed immediately by "Bye, Bye Blackbird" and several other bird-themed ditties. Singing while doubling was a traditional training technique used to keep us moving together while increasing our heart-lung efficiency.

We did not use jodies, however; that was a foreign practice frowned on in the Canadian Forces. Folk songs, pop songs, the sillier the better.

Subject: RE: Folklore: jodies
From: GUEST,Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 04:07 PM

Actually, it was filthy parodies of any catchy tune that the Canadian Forces encouraged, and the filthier the better. Mind you, in Shilo, Manitoba, after troops doubled by the construction engineers' building, we had to tone down our lyrics as a result of the complaints.

Subject: RE: Folklore: jodies
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 08:17 PM

By doubling, you mean... how fast, exactly?!

Love it, Charmion : ) AND your brother's ps!


Dani