Army Cadences

Cadences are used throughout the year during parades and drill events to motivate Cadets and keep them in step. For each cadence, the platoon repeats each phrase (each line) after it is called by the commander.

Captain Jack

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that rifle in my hand
I’m gonna be a shootin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that Bible in my hand
I’m gonna be a preachin’ man
A preachin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that pencil in my hand
I’m gonna be a writin’ man
A writin’ man
A preachin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Hey, hey Captain Jack
Meet me down by the railroad track
With that book in my hand
I’m gonna be a studyin’ man
A studyin’ man
A writin’ man
A preachin’ man
A shootin’ man
The best I can
For Uncle Sam

Alternative verses:

... With a suitcase in my hand/ I'm gonna be a travelin' man

... With that book in my hand/ I'm gonna be a readin' man

... With that Bible in my hand/ I'm gonna be a prayin' man

At the end of each verse, commander may also add "Re-up, you're crazy/ Re-up, you're outta your mind"

Down By the River

Down by the River Cadence (Platoon repeats after each line, except where indicated by the italics)

Down by the river,

We took a little walk

Ran into ______ (use platoon/ company)

And had a little talk

We pushed them

Hey!

We shoved them

Hey!

We threw them in the river

And laughed as they drowned

‘Cause we don’t need _______

Hangin’, hangin’, hangin’ around

Hey, don’t be a fool

Hey, Hey!

Somebody said we were number two

We’re not!

We’re number one

GO ARMY

Here We Go Again

Here we go again

Same old stuff again

Marching down the avenue

Few more days and we’ll be through

I won’t have to look at you

So I’ll be glad and so will you

I Left My Home

Your mother was home when you left

Your right!

Your father was home when you left

Your right!

Your sister was home when you left

Your right!

Your brother was home when you left

Your right!

Your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, your cat, your dog, your fish were there when you left

Your right!

And that’s the reason you left

Your right!

I left my home

To join the Army

The day I left

My Momma cried

Oowie oowie

She thought that I

Would surely die

I left my spouse

Standing at the door

She thought that I

Would die at war

Oowie oowie

I left my son

Playin’ in the yard

To see his Daddy leave

Made him cry so hard

Oowie oowie

That day I left

I shook my Daddy’s hand

He said that I

Would be coming home

Oowie oowie

Johnny (Lowrider) Cadence

Mama told Johnny not to go downtown

Too many Army recruiters around

But Johnny didn’t listen and he went anyway

Shipped off to basic the very next day

Lowrider, lowrider, lowrider, low

Johnny had a girl and her name was Carrie

She was so happy ‘cause they planned to marry

But Johnny wanted to live the life of danger

And wear the black beret of an airborne ranger

Lowrider, lowrider, lowrider, low

Let Them Blow (Four Winds)

Let Them Blow

Let ‘em blow, let ‘em blow

Let the four winds blow

From the east to the west

The U.S. Army is the best

Let ‘em fly, let ‘em fly

Let the Air Force fly

From the east to the west

The U.S. Air Force is the best

The U.S. Army is the best

Let ‘em sail, let ‘em sail

Let the Navy sail

From the east to the west,

The U.S. Navy is the best

The U.S. Air Force is the best

The U.S. Army is the best

Standing tall and looking good

Ought to march in Hollywood

Hold your head and hold it high

___ Platoon is marching by

Dress it right and cover down

Forty inches all around

Nine to the front, six to the rear

That's the way we do it here