Category Archives: Lyrics

Miley Cyrus – “Party in the U.S.A.”

General Information about Item:

  • Music Folklore – Song
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States
  • Informant: Ziqi Wang
  • Date Collected: 02-23-2018

Informant Data:

  • Ziqi Wang is a male student in the Dartmouth College Class of 2018.  He was born in China and emigrated to the United States when he was 9 years old; he has spent most of his life in the Hanover, NH area, having attended Hanover High School. He studies economics and environmental science at Dartmouth, and intends to pursue a career in business in Boston, MA after graduation. Ziqi has been an active member of Dartmouth’s Club Swim Team since the fall of 2014.

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural Context: In order to bolster team spirit and unity, the Dartmouth Club Swim Team has a variety of fun traditions which engage the members in play. This particular ritual has the members of the team sing an adolescent pop song, which has ironically gained fame with the college community, allowing the team to mutually engage in an absurd, almost child-like song. This bonding through humor and adolescent fun helps to solidify the team.
  • Social Context: This musical tradition was explained in a one-on-one interview with the informant at Baker-Berry Library. It is performed before meets, allowing team members to channel any anxiety they may be feeling into a care-free, child-like exercise, relaxing them.

Item:

  • Before meets, members of the Dartmouth Club Swim Team get together to sing Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.”

Music Video for “Party in the U.S.A.”:

Transcript:

  • “Before meets, people like to sing this Miley Cyrus song – ‘Party in the U.S.A.’ I forgot exactly how it goes, but it’s a fun, easy way for people to shake off the nerves. They know like, maybe half of the lyrics. It’s such a silly song.”

Informant’s Comments:

  • “It’s a great song, I love it.”

Collector’s Comments:

  • This song is quite catchy

Collector’s Name: Ashwath Srikanth

Tags/Keywords: Music Folklore, Ritual, Miley Cyrus, Swimming

The First Infantry Song

Title: The First Infantry Song

Informant info: Informant name is Jason Laackmann. Jason is twenty-eight years old and attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran. Jason served in the Army for five years in active duty and continues to serve in the Minnesota National Guard. The locations in which he has served are Fort Bend, Georgia, Fort Riley, Kansas, and overseas in Eastern Afghanistan.

Type of lore: Verbal Folklore, Songs, Lyrics

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Jason was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Jason was asked if he remembered any songs that they would sing during his training or time in the Army. He was asked to sing these songs out loud, but was too shy and sent the lyrics to me via email instead.

Associated File: There is no recorded video as Jason has sent me these lyrics via email.

Transcript:  [I have recorded the item exactly how it was sent to me in the email]:

Below are a few running/marching cadences. Also listed are the army song and the first infantry doctors song, which we sang every morning. Let me know if you need more.

The first infantry division song:

Toast of the Army,

Favorite Son! Hail to the brave Big Red One!

Always the first to thirst for a fight.

No foe shall challenge our right to victory.

We take the field, A grand sight to see.

Pride of the Infantry.

Men of a great division,

Courage is our tradition,

Forward the Big Red One!

Informant’s comments: Jason mentioned that he would sing this song every morning before they would begin their day. He also stated that each infantry had their own specific song.

Collector’s comments: Although Jason was hesitant to sing the songs out loud, he was more than willing to provide the lyrics and share this song with me.

The Army Song

Title: The Army Song

Informant info: Informant name is Jason Laackmann. Jason is twenty-eight years old and attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran. Jason served in the Army for five years in active duty and continues to serve in the Minnesota National Guard. The locations in which he has served are Fort Bend, Georgia, Fort Riley, Kansas, and overseas in Eastern Afghanistan.

Type of lore: Verbal Folklore, Songs, Lyrics

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Jason was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Jason was asked if he remembered any songs that they would sing during his training or time in the Army. He was asked to sing these songs out loud, but was too shy and sent the lyrics to me via email instead.

Associated File: There is no recorded video as Jason has sent me these lyrics via email.

Transcript:  [I have recorded the item exactly how it was sent to me in the email]:

Below are a few running/marching cadences. Also listed are the army song and the first infantry doctors song, which we sang every morning. Let me know if you need more.

The army song:

Intro: March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free

Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory

We’re the Army and proud of our name

We’re the Army and proudly proclaim

Verse: First to fight for the right,

And to build the Nation’s might,

And The Army Goes Rolling Along

Proud of all we have done,

Fighting till the battle’s won,

And the Army Goes Rolling Along.

Refrain: Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!

The Army’s on its way.

Count off the cadence loud and strong (TWO! THREE!)

For where e’er we go,

You will always know

That The Army Goes Rolling Along.

Informant’s comments: Jason mentioned that he has sung this song various times during his time in the Army, and stated it was hard to ever forget the lyrics.

Collector’s comments: Although Jason was hesitant to sing the songs out loud, he was more than willing to provide the lyrics and share this song with me.

Relationship Rhymes

Title: Rhymes (Verbal Folklore Category)

Informant Information: Anonymous female member of the Class of 2017 from Houston, Texas.  She is also a member of Alpha Phi sorority.

Type of Folklore: Verbal Folklore Rhymes

Language: English

Country of Origin: United States of America

Social / Cultural Context: The games and the traditions engrained in Dartmouth culture also come along with rhymes and sayings that go along these activities. Most informants discussed how an invitation to play pong is the best pick up line at Dartmouth. In addition, one informant revealed a rhyme used by the sailing team to further discourage teamcest.

Associated File:

Transcript: 

(Anonymous 1)“You want to play pong?”

“That’s the go to when trying to pick up a guy or a girl?”

“Yeah that’s the go to.”

(Anonymous 2) “Don’t unzipper the skipper.”

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Collector’s Comments: One of our informants described another pick-up line being “You want to play pong?” Another female alerted us to the sailing rhyme about teamcest described above. These are all examples of the verbal folklore that has arisen from Dartmouth’s various games and traditions surrounding its relationship culture.

 

Army Marching Cadence

Title: Army Marching Cadence

Informant info: Informant name is Jason Laackmann. Jason is twenty-eight years old and attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran. Jason served in the Army for five years in active duty and continues to serve in the Minnesota National Guard. The locations in which he has served are Fort Bend, Georgia, Fort Riley, Kansas, and overseas in Eastern Afghanistan.

Type of lore: Verbal Folklore, Songs

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Jason was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Jason was asked if he remembered any songs that they would sing during his training or time in the Army. He was asked to sing these songs out loud, but was too shy and sent the lyrics to me via email instead.

Associated File: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6KcnEdk7Q4

Transcript:  [I have recorded the item exactly how it was sent to me in the email]:

Below are a few running/marching cadences.

I don’t know but I think I might

Jump from an airplane while in flight

Soldier, soldier, have you heard

I’m gonna jump from a big iron bird

Up in the morning in the drizzlin’ rain

Packed my chute and boarded the plane

C-130 rollin’ down the strip

64 Rangers on a one-way trip

Mission Top Secret, destination unknown

They don’t know if their ever coming home

When my plane gets up so high

Airborne troopers gonna dance in the sky

Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door

Jump right out and count to four

If my main don’t open wide

I got a reserve by my side

If that one should fail me too

Look out ground, I’m a-coming through

If I die on the old drop zone

Box me up and ship me home

When I get to heaven

St. Peter’s gonna say,

“How’d you earn your livin’ boy,

How’d you earn your pay?”

I’ll reply with a whole lot of anger,

“Made my living as an Airborne Ranger!

Blood, guts, sex, and danger

That’s the life of an Airborne Ranger!”

When I get to Hell

Satan’s gonna say,

“How’d you earn your livin’ boy,

How’d you earn your pay?”

I’ll reply with a fist to his face,

 

“Made my living laying SOULS to waste!”

 

Momma told Johnny not to go downtown

There’s too many Rangers hanging around

Johnny didn’t listen and he went anyway

To hear what the Rangers had to say

Johnny got a ticket to Afghanistan

To fight the people call the taliban

Johnny fought hard and Johnny fought brave

Johnny jumped on a hand grenade

Momma momma now don’t you cry

AIRBORNE RANGERS ARE BORN TO DIE!

Informant’s comments: Jason has sung these songs multiple times during his time serving, but decided that singing out loud during the interview was too far out of place.

Collector’s comments: Though Jason was too shy to sing the songs out loud, he was more than willing to share the lyrics to the songs and had emailed them to me right after the interview.

Volleyball Pregame Chant

Title: Pregame Chant

Informant info: Sarah Lindquist – 19 years old, female, born and raised in Mercer Island, Washington, Danielle Glinka – 20 years old, female, born and raised from Orlando, Florida

Type of Lore: Verbal, Lyrics

Language: English

Country of Origin: United States

Social/Cultural Context: Before every game, the volleyball team gathers in the locker room where the two captains lead them in a very specific chant, which all the girls know by heart.

Associated File:

Collector’s Comments: This was the most in depth we form of folklore that we could find, especially one that we could get a reenactment of.

The Recon Creed

Title: The Recon Creed

Informant info: Graham “Ossie” Osborn. Informant attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Marine Corps Veteran. Informant was a member of the First Reconnaissance Battalion.

Type of lore: Customary/Verbal, Tradition, Ritual, Song

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Informant was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Informant was asked about his a unit song or chant.  Informant was in the Marines in the First Recon Battalion is their is their battalion creed.

Associated file: https://www.dropbox.com/s/z1us1frzhrn0u2t/IMG_7545.MOV?dl=0

Transcript: Item: [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]: There was not a song, but there was the “Recon Creed.” It is hard for me to remember, but it is every single every single word begins with it. So “R” was realizing this was my choice and my choice alone. The Recon Creed is out there just like the Ranger Creed for the Army. It is important for a lot of people and I knew it backwards and forwards 10 years ago.

Informant’s comments: Joked about how it is one of those things you say so many times, but then you can’t actually remember it when you try.

Collector’s comments:  Informant had a certain cadence to his voice when he began to share the chant.

Unit Song: Boots, Boots, Boots

Title: Unit Song: Boots, Boots, Boots

Informant info: Matt Menezes. Informant attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran. Informant was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and deployed twice to Afghanistan as well as spent two years as a drill sergeant for basic combat training.

Type of lore: Customary/ Verbal, Tradition, Song, Lyrics, Chants

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Informant was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Informant was asked about any songs that they sung during their time in boot camp or while serving abroad. The informant laughed before they began speaking saying he didn’t remember all the words. The lyrics discuss the life in which the 82nd Airborne unit troops lived.

Associated file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/11vv5a27kzlycgq/Dartmouth_Folklore_Collections_Matt_Menezes.mp4?dl=0

Transcript: [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]: There is a song related to my unit. I don’t remember all of it, but I remember that it goes something like this: Put on your boots, boots, boots, and parachutes, chutes chutes, we’re going up, up up , we’re going down, down down, we’re all-American and proud to be. That’s all I remember.

Informant’s comments: He sang lots of songs during his time in the military, but did not remember the others or the words. 

Collector’s comments: Informant was nervous to sing, but had a smile on his face.  He also did the arm motion associated with the song. His arm at a right angle swinging across his body.

I Wish All the Ladies…

Title: I Wish All the Ladies…

Informant info: Informant requested to remain anonymous. Informant attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a United States Army Veteran. Informant enlisted in the Army in 2005 and was a member of the Army Infantry 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, New York. Informant served in Iraq from 2006 to 2007. Informant is 28 years old.

Type of lore: Verbal, Lyrics

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Social / Cultural Context: Informant was interviewed at Dartmouth College. Informant was asked about any songs that they sung during their time in boot camp.

Associated file: Informant requested to remain completely anonymous.

Transcript: [I have recorded the item exactly how it was told to me in the interview]:

I wish all the ladies, were holes in the road.

And I was a dump truck, I’ll fill them with my load.

Informant’s comments: Informant mentioned that songs were very popular during both boot camp and while serving. Informant mentioned that songs were often inappropriate.

Collector’s comments: Informant instantly began singing very loudly and was very excited when I asked about songs.