The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"JODY" CADENCE

MAINLY CADENCE IS USED TO HELP KEEP STEP WHEN THE TROOPS
ARE MARCHING AND TO KEEP STEP WITH THE MARCH AND THE COUNT.
THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR OR THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE PLATOON
OR THE ELEMENT, WHATEVER IT WAS, WOULD CALL CADENCE, JUST
TO KEEP YOU IN STEP AND IT KIND OF PASSES THE TIME AND I
MEAN, AH, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A DRAG. EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR
FAVORITE CADENCES, AND HERE'S A FEW OF MINE.
AS YOU START OUT, EVERYONE STARTS MARCHING WITH THEIR
LEFT FOOT. YOUR LEFT FOOT IS "ONE," YOUR RIGHT FOOT IS
"TWO," LEFT FOOT "THREE," RIGHT FOOT "FOUR;" "ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR." SO THEN THEY WOULD START OUT WITH, "JODY
WAS HOME WHEN YOU LEFT, YOUR RIGHT." AND EVERYONE WOULD SAY,
"YOUR RIGHT." AND THE MAIN PART OF THE CADENCE WAS CALLED
BY THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR AND EVERYONE WOULD SOUND OFF WITH
EITHER "YOUR LEFT" OR "YOUR RIGHT," WHICHEVER FOOT THEY
WERE ON, OR THEY'D SOUND OFF WITH "ONE," "TWO," "THREE,"
OR "FOUR."

Data entry tech comment:

Keypunched by R.J.Miller 11/82

Updated by TRD 01/12

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Keyword(s): Cadence ; Keep Time ; Marching ; MILITARY ; RHYME ; SONG

Date learned: 10-00-1970