The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #71482 Message #1225490
Posted By: PoppaGator
14-Jul-04 - 04:04 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Airborne Ranger Song (US Army 82nd)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Airborne Ranger Song (US Army 82nd)
This is one of many cadence chants, aka "jodies," used to keep time while marching. I seem to recall a long and informative Mudcat thread on this topic about a year ago -- maybe a search on the forum for "Jody" or "jodies" would help find it. (The mythical character Jody, who was making time with your girlfriend while you were drilling in the Army, was the subject of many of these ditties.)
I went through basic training at the very end of 1972, just before the draft was abolished on Jan 1, '73. Few, if any, of us in that training company were destined for the 82d or any other Airborne outfit, but since our drill sergeant had served in 'Nam as an Airborne Ranger, we sang every day that "I wanna live a life of danger." I can remember only fragments of the many verses we sang -- something about "If I die in a combat zone / Bag me up and send me home" ... not a pleasant thought at all!
Thanks for the reminder - I added this thread to the Jody/Cadence group.
-Joe Offer-