cadence

Cadence's

Military Cadence

military

Chesty Puller Momma & Pappa

Up In The Morning

This cue marks the transition between Act 1 and Act 2 of the Lonely Soldier Project, a piece of immersive theater about the experience of women soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The sound of desert winds and military chants move us from the women's homes and their enlistment in the United States to their deployment.

Military Cadences for The Lonely Soldier Project

USMC Cadences


lo right, a lo righty a lay o
lo right, a lefty righty a lo
lo right, a lo righty a lay o
lo right, a lefty righty a lay lo

Momma told Johnny not to go down town
Marine Corps recruiter was hanging around
Suzy told Johnny go serve your nation
take a cab down to the MEPS station
lo right, a lo righty a lay o
lo right, a lo righty a lay o
Momma told Johnny not to go down town
Marine Corps recruiter was hanging around

Suzy's in the bedroom, Jodie's at the window
Johnny's got his bags and he's ready to go
put Johnny on a greyhound bus
then there came the bends and thrusts
Drill Instructors trained him rough and hard
They taught him to fight, they taught him to march

lo right, a lo righty a lay o
lo right, a lo righty a lay o
Momma told Johnny not to go down town
Marine Corps recruiter was hanging around

it was short but long it seemed
Johnny had earned the title Marine
Johnny survived like all the rest
Johnny got popped on a urine analysis
Johnny thought he was one in a million
a urine sample made him a civilian


lo right, a lo righty a lay o
lo right, a lo righty a lay o
Momma Told Johnny not to go downtown
Marine Corps recruiter was hanging around...

I had a pig and his name was Sam
Sunday he was bacon, on Monday he was ham
Grinding my Ka-bar in the barn
While my donkey runs the farm
Got a steer and his name was Jake
Tuesday he was burgers on Wednesday he was steak
Grinding my ka-bar in the barn
while my donkey runs the farm
bare with me 'cause this may sound sick
Gotta strip out some baby chicks
Me and my donkey gonna take a little trip
The Colonel's in need of some Crispy strips

lo righty lo righty lo righty lo
lefty right a lo, here we go

Got two roosters named larry and Lee
One's going to Church's the other KFC
Grinding my ka-bar in the barn
While my donkey runs the farm
Got some lamb and a couple of sheep
Gotta have gyros and mutton ain't cheap
I still grind my ax in the barn
while my donkey runs the farm

lo righty lo righty lo righty lo
lefty righty lo, righty lo, righty lo

Army Cadences

njsoldiers