Background on Informant: My informant is a Marine Corps vet who lives in the Inland Empire and owns an HVAC business, I called him on the phone because I know that in the Marine Corps they sing when they run, It is called cadence. I asked him to tell me about Marine Corps Cadences. There is no exact location for this Cadence because Marines move all over the country/world for duty stations; but he said he heard this in bootcamp at MCRD, San Diego.

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Interviewer: where did you first hear Marine Corps cadence
Informant: honestly, TV movies but the first time I heard it live would be bootcamp.

Interviewer: why do you sing

Informant: Well if you are good at singing then it should help everyone keep in step

interviewer: In step, like in marching?

Informant: yeah it was originally used as a wy of marching Marines around when a unit marches they must all be in step with each other, uniformity solidarity marine corps is all about that but at some point we started doing it for runs too because it helps motivate us while we run. the worst thing you can do is fall out of a run.

Interviewer: Can you sing one for me?

Informant: I never sang when I ran my marines, I was a corporal, that is more of a sergeant / staff sergeant thing.

Interviewer: Oh ok.

Informant: Fuck it Marines don’t half ass shit, if im gonna do it, I’m gonna do it right.

Interviewer: Awesome ready when you are.

B: ♪♫♩♫ Hey there Army, get in your tanks and follow me, I am Marine Corps infantry.
Hey there Air Force, get in your planes and follow me, I am Marine Corps infantry. ♪♫♩♫
♪♫♩♫Hey there Navy, get in your ships and follow me, I am Marine Corps infantry.♪♫♩♫
♪♫♩♫ Hey there Jarheads, grab your M-16 and follow me, we are the Marine Corps infantry.
Hey there Recon, grab your K-Bar and follow me, you are the best of the infantry. ♪♫♩♫
Hey civilians, get off your butts and sign up this week and join the Marine Corps infantry.

Analysis: This is a clear example of occupational folklore. This cadence helps to increase unit cohesion/group solidarity, while also functioning as a musical way of motivation and occupational pride. Occupational folklore instills shared identity, this example specifically demonstrates how folk music such as this serves to reinforce pride in the Marine infantry, contrasting other branches and elevating the “tip of the spear.” By repeating it, they aren’t just motivating each other, they are reinforcing the core values and beliefs of the Marine Corps itself.