Old King Cole

Jammer6

New Member
Anyone remember the words to "Old King Cole" I don't recall the entire chorus.
Goes something like this:

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.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he, aha
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Corporals three.

We need a three day pass said the Corporals.
Beer, beer, beer said the Privates.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he, aha
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Sergeants three.

Left, column left march said the Sergeants,
We need a three day pass said the Corporals,
Beer, beer, beer said the Privates.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he, aha
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Louies three.


Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he, aha
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Captains three.

Who's gonna shine my boots said the Captains,
............ said the Louies,
Left, column left march said the Sergeants,
We need a three day pass said the Corporals,
Beer, beer, beer said the Privates.
 
Chorus, after the "Beer Beer Beer..." part:


Fighting (or Merry) men are we..
There are none so fair that they can compare
to the Field Artillery (can be changed.. :) )


Here's the rest of the ranks (as far as I can remember)

Start a war (or "Nuke them all"), said the Generals
Who's gonna shine my boots (or "When can I play golf?"), said the Colonels
Who's gonna drive my Jeep (or "I need a bigger desk!"), said the Majors
Take that hill, said the Captains
What should I do next, said the Looies
Left right left, said the sergeants

There are also many other versions of it out there... :)
 
old king cole was a marry ol soul and a marry ol soul was he ah ha.
he called for his pipe he called for his bow and he called for his (Rank) three ah ha.

beer beer beer said the Private
how bout a three day pass said the corporal
file from the left collum left said the sergeant
where the hell are we said the luey
are we up said the captain
who going to shine my boots said the major
wheres my star said the colonel
war war war said the general
kill kill kill said the rangers

marry men are we
its not so fair that you cant compare to the (airborne, air assault, ranger, mechanized) infantry ah ha.
 
There are many versions out there. Here is how I learned it from my dad, who was in the US Navy in the forties:

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

(Chorus)
Merry men are we. There's none so fair as can compare
With the Army's Infantry

Hup Two Hup Two Hup, said the Corporals
Squads by right Squads right, said the Sargeants
We do all the work, said the Lueys
We want 10 days leave, said the Captains
Where's my boots and spurs, said the Majors
What's my next command, said the Colonels

(Finally in loud slow growls)

The Army's goin' to Hell, said the Generals.

The cadence, with the right words, in my humble opinion does flow well. I sing it to my kids all the time.

Enjoy.
 
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Beer, beer, beer, said the privates
One two one two one, said the corporals
Right by squads, squads right, said the sergeants
We do all the work, said the shavetails
We want 10 days leave, said the captains
Where's my boots & spurs, said the majors
What's my next command, said the colonels
The army's gone to hell, said the generals

Merry, merry men are we,
For there's none so fair, as can compare
With the Field Ar-till-er-y (Daddy was an red leg, but pick your branch)

Daddy was Navy about 1918, then West Point, then 30 years Artillery, Coast, then Field, then AA.
 
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