Wednesday, January 24, 2018

She Wore A Yellow Ribbon.

A version of this song was still sung, as a Jody Call, in 1982 when I was in basic training:



It's believed that it dates back to the English Civil War, making it a very old soldier's song indeed.  It was quite popular during the Frontier Era, and apparently it was still popular enough that somebody felt like recording it as American troops began to enter combat in the Great War, recorded on this day in 1918.  It was recorded again, not surprisingly, during World War Two.



It went on to lend its name to a well known John Ford film featuring John Wayne and the usual cast of characters, set in the Frontier West.



As noted, it was still around in 1982 when I was in Army basic training, and at some point apparently crossed over to the Marine Corps as well, probably because its easily adaptable to use as a Jody Call.  At least the version I learned in basic training was a little off color, and I'd guess up until recently, the Marine Corps version likely was as well.



The English Civil War to the modern era, that's staying power.

I wonder if its still around? The theme is timeless, but the sentiment is not PC in the modern world, even if it is, in the natural one.

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