VAUGHN MOORE – 1951

Hib-hub, hib-hub, hib-hub, hib-hub
The heads are up
The chests are out
The arms are swinging
And cadence count

Sound off (sound off)
Sound off (sound off)
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

Enie, Meanie, Minie, Moe
Let’s go back and count some more

Sound off (sound off)
Sound off (sound off)
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

I had a good home, but I left (you’re right)
I had a good home, but I left (you’re right)
Jody was there, when I left (you’re right)
Jody was there, when I left (you’re right)

Sound off (1-2)
Sound off (3-4)
Cadence count
1-2-3-4 (1-2, 3-4)

1945 Duckworth Chant

On a cold spring evening in May 1944, the divisional training center was returning from a long tedious march through swamps and rough country, a chant broke the stillness of the night. Upon investigation, it was found that a negro soldier by the name of Willie Duckworth, on detached service with the Provisional Training Center Fort Slocum, was chanting to build up the spirits of his weary comrades. It was not long before the infectious rhythm was spreading through the ranks. Foot-weary soldiers started to pack up their steps in cadence with a growing chorus of hearty male voices. Instead of a down-trodden, fatigued company, here marched 200 soldiers, with heads up, a spring to their step, and happy smiles on their faces. This transformation occurred with the beginning of the Duckworth Chant. Upon returning to Fort Slocum, Private Duckworth, with the aid of the Provisional Training Center instructors, composed a series of verses and choruses to be used with the marching cadence. Since that eventful evening, the Duckworth Chant has been made a part of the drill at Fort Slocum, as it has proved to be not only a tremendous morale factor, while marching, but also coordinated a movement of close-order drill with true precision.

Horeward: HARCH!
Hup-hoop-hip-horp
The heads are up, the chests are out
The arms are swinging; in cadence, count:

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

Eeny meeny miney moe
Let’s go back and count some mo’

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

We will march to beat the band
And we’ll never bite The Hand,

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

I had a good home but I left (you’re right!)
I had a good home but I left (you’re right!)
Jody was there when you left (you’re right!)
Jody was there when you left (you’re right!)

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

It won’t get by if it ain’t GI
It won’t get by if it ain’t GI

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

We will march with a broken leg
So we can get that Golden Egg

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

The Second Platoon is just like Krauts
They’re all afflicted with the gout

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

The Third Platoon can’t stand the [gaffe?]
Tryin’ to get ol’ [on? Blennett’s staff?]

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

If I get shot in a combat zone
Just box me up and send me home,

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

I had a good home but I left (you’re right!)
You had a good home but you left (you’re right!)
Jody was there when you left (you’re right!)
Jody was there when you left (you’re right!)

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

I don’t mind to take a hike
If I could take along a bike

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

I don’t mind a bivouac
If I could take along a WAC

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

I don’t mind if I get dirty
As long as the Brow gets Gravel Gertie

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

The WACs and WAVEs will win the war
So tell us what we’re fighting for

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

I had a good home but I left (you’re right!)
I had a good home but I left (you’re right!)
Jody was there when you left (you’re right!)
Jody was there when you left (you’re right!)

Sound off (one, two!)
Sound off (three, four!)
Cadence count (one, two, three, four, one, two — threefour!)

Gump’knee, HALT!

MUDCAT CHANT

SOUND OFF (CADENCE COUNT) (DUCKWORTH CHANT)

I don’t know but I been told
Korean pussy’s mighty cold

Sound off!
One, two,
Sound off!
Three, four,
Cadence count*
One, two, three, four
One, two, three,four.

I don’t know but I been told
Ass is worth its weight in gold

I got a gal in Kansas city
She’s got freckles on her titty

Got a gal in Baltimore
She’s got a red light on her door.

Got a girl, lives on a hill
Says she won’t, but I know she will.

If I die on the Russian front,
Box me up with a Russian cunt.

Got a gal all dressed in black
Makes her living on her back.

Got a gal all dressed in red
Makes a living in her bed.

Got a gal, she’s long and tall,
Sleeps in the kitchen with her ass in the hall.

I don’t know, but it’s been said
West Point boys are good in bed.

Every time you stamp yo’ feet
Jody gets a piece of meat.

Ain’t no use in goin’ home
Jody’s got yo’ gal an’ gone.

* or (Count ’em down)
note: Marching cadence counts are probably as old as armies. They
provide a means of keeping time that’s more interesting than
simple counting. During the Napoleonic Wars, gunners timed
their broadsides with a count of: “Fire ONE. If I wasn’t a
gunner I wouldn’t be here. Fire TWO etc.”
Up until WWI, there don’t seem to be any records of these
chants, although I’ve heard conversational references to
them. In WWI, they tended to be rythmically dull…” Left!
Left! Left Right Left! I left my wife and fourteen kids,
to go away and fight a war, I left! etc.

In WWII, black troops were, apparently, given more freedom
of self-expression than were white troops. Fancy drill
teams, particularly from Fort Duckworth, Alabama, toured and
popularized jazzier cadence counts. There was a pop record
in the early 50s that wound up on the hit parade. RG

@Army @American
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