Men at War (Sailors at War) | Military Cadence
(Lyrics & History)
The United States Military has a revered tradition of marching to call-and-response songs, commonly referred to as cadences or Jodies, led by a troop leader, Drill Instructor, or Drill Sergeant. This practice, which traces its origins to PVT Willie Lee Duckworth during World War II, become an essential component of military bootcamps, training schools, and physical training sessions. With tempos of 120 BPM on marches or 180 BPM during runs, these cadences provide a steady and predictable rhythm. This rhythmic structure not only fosters unit cohesion and enhances morale but also serves the practical purpose of ensuring troops remain in-step with one another while regulating their breathing.
Throughout the years, cadences have evolved to incorporate a more striking and, at times, provocative tone. The intense nature of some cadences serves to mentally prepare new recruits for the challenges they will face in their duties and potentially in combat. The cadence "Sailors at War" (or "Men at War" when utilized by other branches) utilizes a similar tone in telling the story of a Sailor who ultimately finds his dead Captain.
Lyrics
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(Men at war!) x2
(Late at night when you’re sleepin’)
(The enemy’s a creepin’ all around)
(Men at war!)
(Hey!)
I went to wake the captain
I found him in his bed
But when I rolled him over
I found he had no head
(Men at war!) x2
(Late at night when you’re sleepin’)
(The enemy’s a creepin’ all around)
(Men at war!)
(Hey!)
I’m sittin’ in my foxhole
I thought I had it made
Then all of the sudden
My buddy yells “grenade!”
(Men at war!) x2
(Late at night when you’re sleepin’)
(The enemy’s a creepin’ all around)
(Men at war!)
(Hey!)
I’m sittin’ on a hilltop
Eatin’ beans and franks
Then all of the sudden
The bullets start to rain
Listen to this cadence:
Song Name: Men at War
Album Name: Cadences Volume 2
by Jonathan Michael Fleming
DISCLAIMERS:
The lyrics and music to the above cadence are not original to me. To the best of my knowledge, the song is in the public domain, as the author is unknown and has simply been handed down generation-to-generation within the US military.
The views and opinions presented herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its Components. Appearance of, or reference to, any commercial products or services does not constitute DoD endorsement of those products or services. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute DoD endorsement of the linked websites, or the information, products or services therein.