Army song assistance?
#1

Can anyone lend their assistance???

 

Greetings!

Just found your site; it looks great. But I'm looking for a specific song and wonder if you can help/direct me.

 

My dad (Army Air Corps/AF was a Marauder) used to sing an Army song (borrowed from the Brits?) to the tune of Old King Cole.

I remember fragments only and am looking for the full lyrics. It was the sort of song that built up

in repeating verses until the final verse was something like this:

 

"I hate war" said the President,

The Army's shot to hell said the generals

Bring me boots and spurs said the shavetail

We want 10 days leave said the majors

Right by squads squads right said the sergeant

____ said the privates

 

Merry merry men are we. There's none so fair as can compare with the field artillery.

 

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

And thank you for your great website.

 

Regards,

Karen Ljunggren

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#2

There appears to be several versions of this song. one, located here:

http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/song-midis/Old_King_Cole.htm

the lyrics:

 

Old King Cole

 

Old King Cole was a merry old soul

And a merry old soul was he,

He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl

And he called for his privates three.

"Beer! Beer! Beer!" said the privates

Merry men are we,

There's none so fair as can compare

With the Field Artillery.

 

Old King Cole was a merry old soul

And a merry old soul was he,

He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl

And he called for his corporals three.

"Hut two hut two hut" said the corporals

"Beer! beer! beer!" said the privates

Merry men are we,

There's none so fair as can compare

With the Field Artillery.

 

sergeants: "Squads to the right by threes"

shavetails: "We do all the work"

captains: "We want ten days leave"

majors: "Clean and shine my boots"

colonels: "What's my next command?"

generals: "The Army's gone to hell!"

 

last time through, all ranks say: "Beer! Beer! Beer!"

 

a couple more versions are here:

Army Song Book 1941

 

http://wwcsd.net/~lahaines/documents/cadences_001.swf?POPUP_ENABLED=true

Reply
#3

You rock, or should I say, you cadence! Doesn't quite have the same feel, does it? :pdt12:

 

:theman:

 

 

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Need help with song - I lost my heart in three states? Walt's Daughter 3 5,236 11-05-2013, 12:41 AM
Last Post: Walt's Daughter
  Jack and Joe are mentioned in this 1940's song Walt's Daughter 3 6,086 09-10-2012, 09:58 AM
Last Post: Walt's Daughter
  lyrics to what song???? Walt's Daughter 1 3,369 07-18-2012, 09:20 PM
Last Post: CaptO
  What song is this? A little lad said to his dad.... Walt's Daughter 0 2,693 08-19-2011, 05:01 PM
Last Post: Walt's Daughter
  Rebekah needs help with a song Walt's Daughter 0 2,839 11-13-2009, 05:21 PM
Last Post: Walt's Daughter
  Great song from the Brits in Italy CaptO 2 4,662 05-15-2009, 10:33 AM
Last Post: roque_riojas
  Always - original WWI song - revised WWII? Walt's Daughter 2 4,846 09-12-2008, 05:20 PM
Last Post: Walt's Daughter
  NEED YOUR HELP WITH A SONG!! Walt's Daughter 12 12,741 10-27-2007, 07:04 AM
Last Post: Walt's Daughter
  WWII song " before you go" sixgun 2 5,103 12-05-2006, 09:57 PM
Last Post: chambers



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)