G.I. Jive
Johnny Mercer Lyrics
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Man alive
It starts with the bugler blowin' reveille over your bed when you arrive
Jack, that's the G. I. Jive
Roodley-toot
Jump in your suit
Make a salute
After you wash and dress
More or less
You go get your breakfast in a beautiful little café they call "The Mess"
Jack, when you convalesce
Out of your seat
Into the street
Make with the feet
Reet
If you're a P-V-T, your duty
Is to salute to L-I-E-U-T
But if you brush the L-I-E-U-T
The M-P makes you K-P on the Q-T
This is the G. I. Jive
Man alive
They give you a private tank that features a little device called "fluid drive"
Jack, after you revive
Chunk all your junk
Back in the trunk
Fall on your bunk
Clunk
This is the G. I. Jive
Man alive
They give you a private tank that features a little device called "fluid drive"
Jack, if you still survive
Chunk all your junk
Back in the trunk
Fall on your bunk
Clunk
Soon you're countin' Jeeps
But before you count to five
Seems you're right back diggin' that G. I. Jive
The song G.I. Jive by Johnny Mercer is a lighthearted and playful tune about life as a member of the military. The lyrics describe the daily routine of a soldier, starting with the wake-up call from the bugler playing reveille. The song then goes on to detail some of the other activities soldiers engage in such as getting dressed, going to the café for breakfast, and marching out into the street. The lyrics also reference the different ranks within the military and the accompanying duties such as saluting officers and performing kitchen duty.
Throughout the song, the singer uses playful rhymes and wordplay to create a sense of camaraderie and humor among the soldiers. The repeated refrain of "This is the G.I. Jive, man alive" reinforces this sense of shared experience and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the G. I. Jive
The following song is called the G.I. Jive
Man alive
Wow, this is something else!
It starts with the bugler blowin' reveille over your bed when you arrive
The day begins with a bugler playing reveille to wake you up in the morning
Jack, that's the G. I. Jive
This is what we call the G.I. Jive, buddy!
Roodley-toot
The bugler plays a melody
Jump in your suit
Get dressed quickly
Make a salute
Salute your superiors
Veut
Yes, sir!
After you wash and dress
Once you have showered and put on your uniform
More or less
Usually
You go get your breakfast in a beautiful little café they call "The Mess"
You head to a lovely café called "The Mess" to have breakfast
Jack, when you convalesce
This is what you do when you're getting better from an injury or illness
Out of your seat
Stand up!
Into the street
Get moving!
Make with the feet
Start walking or marching
Reet
Absolutely
If you're a P-V-T, your duty
If you're a private
Is to salute to L-I-E-U-T
You must salute to a lieutenant
But if you brush the L-I-E-U-T
But if you accidentally offend the lieutenant
The M-P makes you K-P on the Q-T
You'll be punished by being put on kitchen patrol secretly
They give you a private tank that features a little device called "fluid drive"
You get a tank with a device called "fluid drive"
Jack, after you revive
This is what you do after you recover
Chunk all your junk
Pack up all your stuff
Back in the trunk
Put it back in your trunk
Fall on your bunk
Collapse onto your bed
Clunk
With a thud
Jack, if you still survive
Assuming you're still alive
Soon you're countin' Jeeps
Before you know it, you're counting Jeeps
But before you count to five
Before you even finish counting
Seems you're right back diggin' that G. I. Jive
It feels like you're right back to doing the G.I. Jive again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrMisaelfarias
This is the G. I. Jive - Lyrics
This is the G. I. Jive
Man alive
It starts with the bugler blowin' reveille over your bed when you arrive
Jack, that's the G. I. Jive
Roodley-toot
Jump in your suit
Make a salute
Boot!!
After you wash and dress
More or less
You go get your breakfast in a beautiful little café they call "The Mess"
Jack, when you convalesce
Outta your seat
Into the street
Make with the feet
Reet!!
If you're a P-V-T, your duty
Is to salute to L-I-E-you-T
But if you brush the L-I-E-you-T
The M-P makes you K-P on the Q-T
This is the G. I. Jive
Man alive
They give you a private tank that features a little device called "fluid drive"
Jack, after you revive
Chuck all your junk
Back in the trunk
Fall on your bunk
Clunk!!
This is the G. I. Jive
Man alive
They give you a private tank that features a little device called "fluid drive"
Jack, if you still survive
Chuck all your junk
Back in the trunk
Fall on your bunk
Clunk!!
Soon you're countin' jeeps
But before you count to five
Seems you're right back diggin' that G. I. Jive
@snowwolf2951
I'm 19 this song is my favorite song aside from bugle boy I love the men and women from this time period and I'm proud to have had a grandfather who served this is for sure the last great period
@davidoppenheim3979
This was a very uncertain time and many people were very depressed about their teenage sons being drafted into the Armed Forces to fight for their country. Johnny Mercer knew this and was able to write such uplifting music during this period that help lift peoples' spirits! He was loved by so many back then.
@jacquelynking2184
I LOVE the fact that a 19 year old can APPRECIATE the music from this era! So cool!!
@mrmacdavis
I’ve gone 3 months with playing 40s-50s music for my playlist, let me tell u I’m keeping it!! Best era
@franknieuwenhuys3155
Why does this remind me of a memory that I don't have.
@andrew-nx8yy
Frank Nieuwenhuys you prolly listened to this song in your past life
@F0XX7
Why does this remind me of every day. Oh wait...
@tredhuboffiial769
Yo sometimes i feel that too, like everytime i listen to ww2 songs i feel like i knew the song and have this some sort of memories of me living in the past. even with detail. it weird
@theautistic.teacher
Same. I'm 19 btw
@theautistic.teacher
@@tredhuboffiial769 SAMEEE