Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: artbrooks
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 10:03 AM

Now, I will offer this one up. It is a real marching cadence; with no apologies for the language (we were young then).

Hi-dee di-dee, Christ almighty,
Who the hell are we?
Whim wham, God damn,
We're the ROTC.

We're Lieutenant Casey's raiders,
We're the rapers of the night
We're rooky, horny bastards
Who would rather fuck than fight.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Goose Gander
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 12:31 AM

In the free-spirited atmosphere which characterizes this thread, I offer the following . . .

HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE

Hey diddle diddle
The cat scrapped the fiddle
The cow jump'd over the moon
The little dog bayed
To see such sports played
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

"The unmeaning 'Hey Diddle Diddle' is a corruption of the very intelligible (Greek characters I cannot read) which is literally 'Sing words not clear, and Sing words clear'; which which may be compared a Sibylline verse in Greek (more Greek characters I cannot read)."

Source:
Halliwell, Popular Rhymes & Nursery Tales of England (London, Sydney and Toronto: The Bodley Head, 1970; first published in 1849), p.265.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Peace
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 10:30 PM

Great thread. Keep it zizzin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 10:28 PM

I went back a read this thread-or at least I scanned it.

And I forgot the Cub Scout marching song.

I like that song since it shows an example of how the original song has been adapted for children...so it's the folk process at work
{or at play}.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Peace
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 10:25 PM

I inhaled enough for twenty people, but my body didn't absorb any of the THC. Really . . . .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 10:15 PM

Oh I'm goin to jail for this!! And my mother might read this a think her little girl done done wrong.

Let me hasten to correct a key {or not so key} sentence in my last post:

"And no. I've NOT smoked blunts or reefer or whatever you call it.
{I have a story about that but I'll leave that for another time}.

Got that? I HAVE NOT EVER SMOKED Blunts. or Reefer..or whatever you call it.

Well, actually I did once, but I didn't inhale

;o)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 10:10 PM

JHFC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 10:08 PM

And just because I'm nice, I'll summarize this thread, so far:
1. I posted a query sent to me about the words to the song "Do Wah Diddey" which was performed in the movie Stripes

2. some people post that this aint no real marchin cadence

3. Some people remember the movie; a link to the YouTube trailer of the movie showing the cadence is posted

4. Some people mention that this song was recorded by two British Rock groups

5. I post the link to the current thread on British Rock but I 'misspeak' and say that the group Manfred Mans was American {maybe this happened at #4 and #4 is #5}

6. I apologize for referring to the group as American and then someone says the song was actually written by Americans and then someone says that Manfred Mans was actually South African {btw,I'm writing all this down from memory without re-reading this post-are you impressed yet?}

7. There's some mention of gum artist and of course I have to ask what a gum artist is. Someone makes a snide/witty remark {either snide or witty, I can't remember which one I thought it was, and I'm not going to cheat and re-read it now}...Anyway someone posts what a bubblegum artist is...and that question prompts me to start thinking about the etymology of the word diddy and diddley

8. I post the meanings of the words "diddley" and "diddy"

9. Before I post the meaning of the word diddley or diddy someone mentions some blues songs with that do wah diddy phrase or a similar phrase. That starts me wondering what other songs have that phrase.

10. I find & post information about the diddley bow.

I1. I find out that the diddley bow was called um-something in some African language. Of course, I have to find out which African language so I look it up and post it {Uf I remember correctly, it's Swazi, from Swaziland of course.

12.Now, where are we? Hmmmm. Somewhere in there I find out that Bo Diddley got his name 'cause kids thought his was country,but he could fight good and this girl said "Oh, you're a Bo Diddley" {She probably did a bit of folk etymology there, meaning she mistakenly transposed the words "diddley bow". It seems at some point that word "diddley" had {has?}a positive sexual connatation. How this term got that positive sexual connotation from the name for that musical instrument I think you can figure out for yourself. Oh yeah, I also found out that the guitarist Bo Diddley was a boxer. And I also found out how to make a diddley bow, not that I really would know how to do it, but at least I posted that information from the same site whose editor corrected his error that Bo Diddley really didn't play the Diddley Bo {cause he said his hands were too big{ but a lot of other Bluesmen did {I guess some Blueswomen may have too, but that man didn't mention that}. Btw, I thought it was real admirable that that man admitted his error. It takes a strong man to do that, doesn't it. {Okay, that was sexist. Let me rephrase that-It takes a strong person to do that, doesnt't. [those are rhetorical questions]

13. Someone then says that Hip-Hop enterprenaur {I never know how to spell that word} Sean Puffy Combs {otherwise known as P. Diddy}'s name also is in that "Diddy" tradition. Well, actually he {I think that poster whose numbers I can't remember but there's a 2 and and RA his {her?} name} didn't give Sean {Puffy}Comb's name, but I'm posting it now to show off my street creds... Somewhere in that post I guess {correctly?} that "Puffy" or the "P" in "P Diddly" comes from smoking blunts {I guess I don't have to say what those are, right-And no. I've smoked blunts or reefer or whatever you call it.
I have a story about that but I'll leave that for another time}.

14. Somewhere in there I remembered this cutesy song -was this way back there with the gum artist post?.I think it came afterwards-anyway I remembered this song which I thought when "Do Wah Do Wah Diddy/talk about the boy from New York City" but I found out that the words were "cool kitty" or something very uncool like that.

15. I think that when I get to the post about this thread turning into an exploration of the word diddy and diddley which it has, and I admit that I was the one who helped that along which I was.

16. I post the song "Diddley Daddy" and I'm proud that now I understand that this song is more than just Bo Diddley riffing on his name, but he's bragging about he's a man who knows how to love him some women and the woman know he's all that and a bag of chips {as people used to say around my neighborhood-I don't know what the latest slang for this is but I can find out if you're interested}.

17. I ask if anyone knows about this song Diddley Daddy.

18. I think this is when you posted your post.

So that's my summary of this thread so far.

Did I forget anything?

If so, sorry.

I hope this helps.

:o)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 09:22 PM

As well you should......or not.......Completely your call. I'll just be sittin' here a 'zizzin'............

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 09:20 PM

Thanks, Catspaw.

I'll take what you wrote as a high compliment.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 09:11 PM

I have never seen anyone with the singular ability to take a thread off into the ozone as much as you do Ziz. It is a talent with the elegance of both science and art, formed in the crucible of not just the curious, but also the lunatic mind. We will have to add a new term to the lexicon of the 'net. No longer will threads be hijacked or just drift. Today we can also say they are "Zizzed." If they are so far off topic as to be completely blown, then they will be "Zizzed-Off."

Finally, when I am alluding to the situation wherein I have no fuckin' idea where the thread went or why, I, or anyone else in that position will be said to be "Zizzed Out."


Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 08:52 PM

Here's the URL for that website:

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/chrisisaak/diddleydaddy.html

Subject: Lyr Add: DIDDLEY DADDY
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 08:50 PM

Well, this thread has turned into an exploration of the word "diddey" and similar words...

And that's alright with me since I'm doin much of the turnin :o)

I goggled the word diddley and found this song:

DIDDLEY DADDY

Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.

Well I got a baby whose oh so pretty,
Found her right here in this knock dead city.
Saw somebody kissing my baby last night.
My baby said Jimmy that's all right.

Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.

Baby now baby understand.
Jimmy looks good but he's a happy man.
Roly looks good but he's oh so cold.
That big ol' drummer gonna wreck your soul.

Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.

Two orphan babies were a laying in the bed.
The big one turned to Jimmy and said,
"I love you Jimmy with all of my heart."
Jimmy woke up and tore the place apart.

Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.

Well baby now baby hear my scene.
I wanna know if you do love me.
I love you baby with all my heart.
Oh please don't ever say we will part.

Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
Diddley, diddley, diddley, diddley, daddy.
A-be-by-bick-ya-bye-go-go-go-yeah!

-snip-

The website's name is Chris Isaak Lyrics. So is Chris Isaak the one who wrote this song?

About four years ago I lucked up and bought a great audio tape of Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Bo Diddley. Believe it or not, that's the first time I had ever heard of Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters. One of the songs the three sang on that tape was "Diddley Daddy" with Bo Diddley taking the lead on that song. At the time, I thought that "Diddley" was just a repeat of his name. But as a result of the information found online about the word "diddley", I'm thinking that a "Diddley Daddy" was something like a gigalo or at least a man who was very interested in the ladies, if you know what I mean.

Does anybody know more about the song "Diddley Daddy"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 11:01 PM

Of course, in my last post I meant that I'd bet the farm and not the far {whatever that is or isn't}.

As a result of that etymology lesson, it occurs to me that maybe those innocent Cub Scout shouldn't be singing "Do Wah Diddy".

Should we tell the Scout leaders what "diddy" means?

Naw.

And now I can understand better why P. Diddy chose that name...
I mean I know that "P". stands for "Puff" and I suppose that was because he smoked blunts or something, but I didn't know what the "diddy" part really meant, but now I do...

sort of.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 10:49 PM

To continue from my last post, http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/musicdictionaryletterU.asp describes an 'umakweyana' as "a one string gourd instrument played by the women of Swaziland." Since most African descendants of African Americans came from West and Central Africa, that traditional instrument's name probably isn't the source of the name "diddley bow". I'm sure that there are hundreds of different names for these types of instruments throughout West and Central Africa.

I'm still trying to find out where the name "diddley bow" came from.

Maybe one or more of those African names for this type of instruments sounded {sounds}like "diddley".

However, if I were a betting person-which I'm not-I'd bet the far-that I don't own anyway-that the name "diddley came from the English language. I mean "bow" did. So why not "diddley'?

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=d&p=9
Online Etymology Dictionary provides this definition for the word "diddle" :

diddle
"to cheat, swindle," 1806, from dial. duddle, diddle "to totter" (1632). Meaning "waste time" is recorded from 1825. Meaning "to have sex with" is from 1879; that of "to masturbate" (especially of women) is from 1950s. More or less unrelated meanings that have gathered around a suggestive sound".

-snip-

Hmmmm.

Well, I can see how people might think that playing with that homemade musical instrument attached to a door or a board or would be wasting time. And as to the other referent, well....I'll just say that none of this may mean 'diddly squat' {or as we used to say in New Jersey-'doodley squat'}, but where the name "diddley bow" came from is getting clearer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 10:37 PM

More online information about the diddley bow:

Excerpt from http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF1902/Steber/Steber.html
African-American Music from the Mississippi Hill Country:

"They Say Drums was a-Calling"; Text and Photos by Bill Steber
"Glenn Faulkner of Gravel Springs, MS plays the one-string "diddley bow" by sliding a pocket knife along a length of raised broom wire while plucking the wire with his right hand. This primitive instrument, historically played by African-American children in Mississippi, is actually an American adaptation of similar instruments still in use in African today. It's earliest ancestor is the hunter's mouth bow, one of the world's earliest know instruments, which is depicted in cave paintings at Lascaux. The diddley bow is an essential element in the formation of the blues because it was a tool with which young musical aspirants learned the rudiments of musck and slide technique. More importatly, the one-string is often played as an extension and/or mimic of the human voice, and uniquely-African contribution to American music. Faulkner, who owns the only electrified diddley bow in Mississippi, is one of only a handful of musicians for whom the one-string is their primary instrument. "I guess I'm gonna hold on to that one string," says Faulkner. "There's always somebody in music with a guitar, But that one-string, I guess I'm one of the last one that can play it." "


**
"Diddley Bow; http://www.littletobywalker.com/Pages/anewdiddleybow.html
[with photos]

"The diddley bow may have been the first instrument that produced the sound of sliding rhythm and the whines and cries of a single string that later became the distinctive sound known today as the "Blues". It was common to the rural south in the 1800's and was made by taking a piece of broom or cotton wire and stretching it between two nails tied to the side of a wooden frame house, with a bottle or "snuff can" wedged under the wire to create tension for pitch. The string was plucked while sliding a piece of metal or glass on it to produce notes. The "diddley bow" is similiar to an African one-string instrument that was called an "Umakweyana." "

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 06:38 PM

Mad props for that one, 282RA.

And, since this phrase is more my generation, I'll also say
"Right on!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 06:31 PM

There's P. Diddy. No joke, it's cut from that same tradition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 05:02 PM

Of course, there's Bo Diddley.

See this excerpt from http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/020628-blues7.shtml :

"Bo Diddley got his very name from fighting. Eight-year-old Ellas McDaniel moved to Chicago from McComb, Mississippi, with his mother's cousin. This wasn't unusual -- the South Side was full of kids from Mississippi. But Ellas was as Country as Country could be, and he learned that that don't play in Chi. Littler kids were whippin' up on him, so he learned to fight back. One day, while proving something to some kid with his fists, a neighborhood girl said, "Man, you're a bo diddley!" No one knew what she meant, but the name stuck.

Bo did the boxing thing, and quit for the right reason. He actually used the name "Bo Diddley" when he started boxing, and it gained him some notoriety -- his big ol' country fists gained him even more notoriety. Don't be fooled by the glasses and the plaid suits, people: this was a bad man in the ring. But he quit when he got married -- Mrs. Diddley didn't like it, and that's the only respectable reason for a man to give up the game. But that's where he met Roosevelt Jackson, his first bass player and they formed the Hipsters together in 1945".

-snip-

If this is a true story, perhaps the girl made a mistake and meant to say "diddley bow" but the words came out wrong. She probably was referring to that handmade musical instrument that as unsophisticated as it was, still made beautiful music.

**

Btw, here's a quote about Bo Diddley from the person who launched the site that I quoted from in last post:

"You are probably thinking Bo Diddley. Although I know that it does sounds logical, in fact there is no connection at all between the two. I was both Honored and Embarassed when Mr. Elias McDaniel himself, AKA "Bo Diddley", contacted me to tell me," I have never played the diddley bow, or any form of slide guitar. My fingers are too big to fit any slide or bottleneck. Please correct your info, and Thanks, I enjoyed the rest of your site..."

http://hometown.aol.com/ujaxmanmike/diddleys.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:51 PM

The refrain "Do Wah Diddy" reminds me of the Diddley bow.

Here's some information on that instrument which is of African origin.

"Back when the Blues was young, many musicians either couldn't afford or couldn't find a guitar or piano to play their music. Instead, they had to make due with whatever they could find or make themselves. One of these traditional instruments is known as the Diddley Bow.

A Diddley bow was usually made by unravelling the wire that fastens the straw to a broom and stretching it across a wall or barn door. The player would then take a knife, a bottle or pipe (slide) and ride it up and down the "string" while plucking with the other hand. This action changes the pitch of the note and makes the music. It is a very simple Instrument to play and is great fun."

-snip-

Here are names from that website of Blues musicians who have played the diddley bow:

"Robert Johnson; Roy Buchanan; Jimmy Reed

Elmore James; John Lee Hooker; Luther Allison

Muddy Waters; Son House; Lonnie Pitchford

Pinetop Perkins; Big Bill Broonzy;Jesse Mae Hemphil      

Lightnin' Hopkins; Mississippi John Hurt; Albert King

B.B. King; Rusty Barkley; Scott Ainslee

Charlie Patton; John O'Gorman; And scores of others..."


Source:
http://hometown.aol.com/ujaxmanmike/diddleys.html

Subject: Add: Lyr: Do Wah Diddy-Cub Scout song
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:39 PM

Speaking of marching songs, here's a cute Cub Scout adaptation of
"Do Wah Ditty" :

DO WAH DIDDY {Club Scout Song}
©2003 W. T. Smith

Here we come
Just a hiking cross the camp
Singing Do-wah-diddy-Diddy-do-diddy-dum
Laughin' and a singin' and Havin' lots of fun
Singing Do-wah-diddy- Diddy-do-diddy-dum
Look good!
    Look good!
Have fun!
   Have fun!
Look good, have fun!
Keep our leaders on the run!

There we were, We were a hiking up the hill
Singing Do Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Do
Our clothes wet & filthy and I think they are still -
Singin Do Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Do
But we hiked on
   Hiked on
Sang songs
   Sang songs
We hiked on, sang songs! Keep it going all day long
Whooaooaoaooa - Mosquitos....

It's been two days of this now & I want my own bed
Singing Do Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Do
The rain isn't stopping and I've got pains in my head
Singing Do Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Do
But we hiked on .........


Before we knew it, it was time to go home Singing....
I dumped all my laudry and I hugged my dear Mom -Singing.....
Then I signed up
    (signed up)
For Next Year
    (for next Year )
I signed up for Next Year
I just can't wait til it's here
Whoooooaooaooa - Moskitos
   

--- Final Chorus ---

OOOOOOOH!
Here we come Just a hiking cross the camp
Singing Do-wah-diddy-Diddy-do-diddy-dum
Singing Do-wah-diddy-Diddy-do-diddy-dum!


http://www.wtsmith.com/songs/doowah.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:32 PM

Kat,

Doesn't the original DWD have the line, "somebody tell me please what do wah diddy means?"? Izzat what you were thinking of or is there a separate song?

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:23 PM

I believe Blind Blake did "Diddy-Wah-Diddy" if I remember the guitar style correctly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 02:50 PM

Roy Bookbinder has a song he sings, can't remember the name, but it has a line which goes "somebody tell me please what do wah diddy done?" I'll try to find my tape and post the lyrics, unless someone else finds it first.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Alba
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 02:42 PM

It's in most computer language dictionaries.
upthread: adv. Earlier in the discussion (see thread), i.e., `above'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 02:33 PM

Where did we get that word? I think you introduced it here. It's catching on!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 02:01 PM

282RA -Thanks for that explanation. I thought that might be what it meant,but I wasn't sure.

Susan-I didn't coin the word "upthread". I've coined other words & phrases that I could use right now. But I'll refrain from that pleasure.

Subject: ADD: BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 01:55 PM

Song posted upthread.

Azizi, please see subject line this post. How we make things findable when we forget to change it in the post where the song is. "Upthread," your word? I like it.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: 282RA
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 01:45 PM

A gum artist is someone who does bubblegum music--a lightweight pop concoction made to appeal to teen girls.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:48 PM

So check this out. There was this other song that I just knew had the words "do wah diddy, talk about the boy from New York City" and so I google it and this is what I found:

BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY
By John Taylor & George Davis

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City
Ooo wah, ooo wah c'mon kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

He's kind of tall
He's really fine
Some day I hope to make him mine, all mine
And he's neat
And oh so sweet
And just the way he looked at me
He swept me off my feet
Ooo whee, you ought to come and see
How he walks
And how he talks

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

He's really down
And he's no clown
He has the finest penthouse I've ever seen in town
And he's cute
In his mohair suit
And he keeps his pockets full of spending loot
Ooo whee, say you ought to come and see
His dueling scar
And brand new car

Every time he says he loves me
Chills run down my spine
Every time he wants to kiss me
He makes me feel so fine
Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

Well he can dance
(He can dance, take a chance with a little ro-)
And make romance
(mance baby, cause he's a looker)
That's when I feel in love
With just one glance
(He's sweet talking and cool)

He was shy
And so was I
And now I know I'll never, ever say goodbye
Ooo whee, say you ought to come and see
He's the most
From coast to coast

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City
Ooo wah, ooo wah c'mon kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

The Manhattan Transfer-The Boy From New York City


-snip-

What??!! "Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty"...Are those the RIGHT words to that song? Have I been singing this song {at least the chorus of this song} to myself WRONG all these years??

I'm shocked-really shocked-that I could have made such a mistake all these years. I mean, I do everything else right.

:o)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Goose Gander
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:33 PM

I'll have to dig up the records, but I have a few blues songs with 'Diddy Wah Diddy' in the title and refrain, including one that goes "I wish somebody would tell me what diddy wah diddy means" or something like that.

Plus the Remains (American Stones-influenced band) had a Diddy Wah Diddy song too, I believe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Alec
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 11:36 AM

A friend of ours is wont to sing "There she was just a walkin' down the street singin' Do what daddy did to mummy to have me."
Just thought I'd share that with you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: bubblyrat
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 11:15 AM

It"s someone with false teeth who is willing to perform certain services.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: fat B****rd
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 11:06 AM

Manfred himself was South African, I beieve.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 08:50 AM

282RA, what's a gum artist?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: 282RA
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 08:15 AM

Jeff Barry also cowrote Sugar Sugar by the Archies. His collaborator was Andy Kim, a Lebanese-Canadian gum artist.

While Manfred Man may have been classified as British, I believe the bassist was Klaus Voorman whom I think is German.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Alba
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 07:45 AM

Thanks for the Info LFM.
I happened apon this article late last night, Go figure huh *smile*:

"Manfred Mann hit the U. S. shores as part of the so-called "British Invasion" of 1964 with such British bands as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five and Herman's Hermits.
The band was asked to write a theme song for the British pop music series, "Ready Steady Go," in 1963. The song, called "5-4-3-2-1," was then released as a single in England, where it peaked at # 5 (with no impact in the U. S.).

"Do Wah Diddy":

Their first hit U. S. single, "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," went straight to # 1 on the Billboard magazine Pop chart, spending two weeks in the top spot. Nearly 40 years later, the happy, fun, uptempo, bubblegummy tune can still be heard on Classic Rock radio.
As recently as 1981, the tune was the centerpiece of the film "Stripes," with new Army recruit Bill Murray singing the song as the troops marched:
"There she was just a walkin' down the street singin' / do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do / snappin' her fingers and a shufflin' her feet singin' / do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do..."

By reaching # 1 with the tune in Fall of 1964, the band charted higher than the # 78 chart position reached earlier that year by The Exciters with the same song. Manfred Mann reached # 2 with the song in England.
"Do Wah Diddy Diddy" was not written by the band. It was written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, who already had scored monster hits as songwriters with tunes like "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Then He Kissed Me" and "Be My Baby." They later wrote songs such as "River Deep, Mountain High" and "I Can Hear Music."

Jude

who is off to make her Breakfast singing..."I met him on a Monday and my heart stood still..do doo ron ron ron do doo ron ron.."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 06:42 AM

"Well, Azizi's certainly right"

You tell it, Freddie!

{and I'm not even gonna ask what the "long firm" refers to}.

LOL!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 03:08 AM

Well, Azizi's certainly right to describe it as an American pop song.

It was written and composed by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, both born in Brooklyn.

The song was originally a hit for the Exciters, an American girl group, and the original lyrics of the song reflected that.

So Manfred Mann's hit was certainly a cover version, as was The Mighty Quinn.

Whatever happened to the guy who wrote that one?

LFF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 08:57 PM

I just noticed there's a Mudcat thread up about British Rock-n-Roll.

thread.cfm?threadid=98798&messages=17

How coincidental!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 08:53 PM

Thanks to all for your information!

I enjoyed watching that YouTube clip and I got a sense that Art's right that any marching to this song would be in reaction to the movie...

And please forgive me for my error about the nationality of Manfred Mans. I'm still not sure about who the Moffets are which goes to show you that I'm not hip to British pop music.

So in at least partial penance, I've google the name Manfred Manns and put information about them here.

I found it more difficult to find information about the Moffets, but at least I got the sense that they were {are?} also a pop group from Britain. Yeah, it's probably off topic, but if anyone wants to help a sister get hip to the jive, I'd appreciate it.

[Oh, the things we learn on Mudcat!]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Alba
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 07:50 PM

They are Effsee but 'do wah diddy' was a cover they did of a song written by the Moffats..I think? Don't go quoting me now though..8>)

Manfred Mann and the Earth Band are still touring.
The other song they had a another hit with was 'The Mighty Quinn'

All the Best
J

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Effsee
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 07:44 PM

"American pop song recorded by Manfred Mann"...they were a British pop band .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 07:30 PM

BINGO!!! Give that man a see-gar.

Actually Art, you really piss me off. I tend to agree with you about 99.9% of the time and where's the fun in that? Why don't you consider saying something incredibly stupid so I can call you an "incredible dumbass" or something? What a pain in the ass you are........***sigh***................

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: artbrooks
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 07:22 PM

Azizi, I really can't recall that as a marching cadence, and I was doing a lot of marching to cadence in the several years after the song originally came out. It's not impossible that it was used as a cadence call after "Stripes" came out, but it would have been in reaction to the movie rather than otherwise...and probably in the absence of any drill sergeants!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 06:55 PM

There is a very brief clip of it in the movie trailer at, where else(?), you tube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 06:32 PM

I don't remember doing that one in the Navy. We did "Na-na-na-na hey-hey-hey goodbye" from Steam.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: jeffp
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 06:21 PM

The soldiers in the movie used Doo-wah-diddy-diddy as a marching cadence. They did it pretty straight, if memory serves correctly. No instrumental accompaniment, of course. I think it was just the first verse, but I could be wrong.

Subject: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 06:10 PM

My website on rhymes and chants received this query from Iv:

"I'm looking to find the lyrics to a military (supposed) chant from the movie STRIPES. It goes something like: Here she comes, just a' walking down the street, singin' do wa diddy, diddy dum, diddy do. Snapping her fingers and ? ......She looked good, she looked fine, and she really blew my mind... Now we're together every single day, singing Do wa diddy, diddy dum, diddy do.... Any clue as to where I might get the lyrics or the name of this?

-snip-

I know that this cadence is based on this American pop song recorded by Manfred Mann: http://www.oracleband.net/Lyrics/do_wah_diddy_diddy.htm

The website notes that "this song was a #1 Top 40 Hit and party song from 1964 "and that it "enjoyed a comeback when featured in the 1981 movie "Stripes".

I don't think I saw the movie "Stripes". Did that movie have Manfred Man's version of this song or a different version? And what did it have to do with cadences? Were the soldiers marching while they chanted this song?

I found a brief mention of this cadence in this 2001 post from Jeri. That's the only reference to this song or cadence that Mudcat's search engine comes up with. I can't find it on other Mudcat threads on cadences.

Perhaps the cadence has the same lyrics as the pop song. If not, does anyone remember any different lyrics to this song that were used as a military cadence?

Thanks in advance,

Azizi