Chords for Tom Lehrer: It Makes A Fellow Proud To Be A Soldier (concert live) (1959)
Tempo:
115.25 bpm
Chords used:
C
Am
G
D
F
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
[Eb] [Bb]
[C] [Bb]
I'm proud to be recently diverged from the United States Army, [A] so [N] that I am now, of course, in the radioactive reserve.
And the usual jokes about the Army aside, one of the many fine things one has to admit is the way that the Army has carried the American democratic ideal to its logical conclusion,
in the sense that not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed, and color, but also on the grounds of ability.
Be that as it may, some of you may recall the publicity a few years ago, attendant upon the Army's search for an official Army song,
to be the counterpart of the Navy's Anchors Away and the Air Force's Up in the Air Junior Birdmen and so on.
I was in basic training at the time, and I recall our platoon sergeant, who was an unfrocked Marine.
Actually, the change of service had come as quite a blow to him, because it meant that he had to memorize a new serial number, which took up most of his time.
At any rate, I recall this sergeant's informing me and my roommates of this rather deplorable fact that the Army didn't have any official, excuse me, didn't have no official song.
And suggested [Ab] that we work on this in our [Gb] copious free time.
[Bb] Well, I submitted the following song, which is called It Makes a Fellow Proud to be a Soldier, which I think demonstrates the proper spirit, you'll agree.
However, the fact that [B] it did not win the contest, I can ascribe only to blatant favoritism on the part of the judges.
[D]
[Am] [G] The heart of every man in our platoon must [Em] swell with pride, [Am] for the nation's youth, the cream of which is marching [D] at his side.
For the [Em] fascinating rules [C] and regulations [Am] that we share, [D] and the quaint and [E] curious costumes that we're called upon to [D] wear.
[G] [A]
[C] Now Al joined up to do his part, defending you and me.
He wants to fight [G] and bleed and kill and die for liberty.
[C] With the hell of [D] war, he's come to grips, policing [Gb] up the filter tips.
It makes [Am] a fellow proud to be a [Ab] soldier.
[F] [Dm] When [C] Pete was only in the seventh grade, he stabbed a cop.
He's real R.A. material, [G] and he was glad to swap [C] his switchblade [D] and his old zip gun [F] for a bayonet and a U.M. one.
It makes a fellow proud [D] to be a soldier.
[C] [G] After [A] Johnny got through basic training, [C] he [Am] was a soldier [Bm] through and through when he was [C] done.
[Am] His effects were so well-rooted, that the next day he saluted [D] a good humor man, an usher, and a nun.
[Em]
[C] [B]
Now Fred's an intellectual, brings a book to every meal.
He likes the deep [G] philosophers, like Norman Vincent Peale.
[D] [G] He thinks [E] the Army's just the [F] thing, because he finds it broadening.
It makes [Am] a fellow proud to be a [G] [C] soldier.
[Db]
Now [C] Ed flunked out of second grade and never finished school.
He doesn't know [G] a shelter half [D] from an entrenching tool, but [C] he's going to be [E] a big success.
[F] He heads his class at [F] OCS.
It makes a fellow [Am] proud to be a soldier.
[E]
[C] Our old mess sergeant's taste buds have been shot off in the war, but his savory collations [D] add to our esprit de corps.
[C] To think of all [E] the marvelous ways they're using [Gb] plastics nowadays.
It makes a [Am] fellow proud to be a [C] soldier.
[G]
[E] [A] Our lieutenant is [G] the up-and-coming [C] type.
Played [Am] with soldiers as a boy, you [C] just can bet.
It is [Am] written in the stars, he will get his [Am] captain's bars, [D] but he hasn't got enough [G] box tops yet.
[B]
[C] Our captain has a handicap to cope with, sad to tell.
He's from Georgia, [G] and he doesn't speak the language very well.
[C] He used to be, so rumor [F] has, the dean of [Ebm] men at [F] Alcatraz.
It makes a fellow proud to be, what as [Am] a kid I vowed to be, what [Gb] electing [Am] me allowed to [Dm] be, a soldier.
[C] That is.
[Gb] [F] [Am]
[C] [Bb]
I'm proud to be recently diverged from the United States Army, [A] so [N] that I am now, of course, in the radioactive reserve.
And the usual jokes about the Army aside, one of the many fine things one has to admit is the way that the Army has carried the American democratic ideal to its logical conclusion,
in the sense that not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed, and color, but also on the grounds of ability.
Be that as it may, some of you may recall the publicity a few years ago, attendant upon the Army's search for an official Army song,
to be the counterpart of the Navy's Anchors Away and the Air Force's Up in the Air Junior Birdmen and so on.
I was in basic training at the time, and I recall our platoon sergeant, who was an unfrocked Marine.
Actually, the change of service had come as quite a blow to him, because it meant that he had to memorize a new serial number, which took up most of his time.
At any rate, I recall this sergeant's informing me and my roommates of this rather deplorable fact that the Army didn't have any official, excuse me, didn't have no official song.
And suggested [Ab] that we work on this in our [Gb] copious free time.
[Bb] Well, I submitted the following song, which is called It Makes a Fellow Proud to be a Soldier, which I think demonstrates the proper spirit, you'll agree.
However, the fact that [B] it did not win the contest, I can ascribe only to blatant favoritism on the part of the judges.
[D]
[Am] [G] The heart of every man in our platoon must [Em] swell with pride, [Am] for the nation's youth, the cream of which is marching [D] at his side.
For the [Em] fascinating rules [C] and regulations [Am] that we share, [D] and the quaint and [E] curious costumes that we're called upon to [D] wear.
[G] [A]
[C] Now Al joined up to do his part, defending you and me.
He wants to fight [G] and bleed and kill and die for liberty.
[C] With the hell of [D] war, he's come to grips, policing [Gb] up the filter tips.
It makes [Am] a fellow proud to be a [Ab] soldier.
[F] [Dm] When [C] Pete was only in the seventh grade, he stabbed a cop.
He's real R.A. material, [G] and he was glad to swap [C] his switchblade [D] and his old zip gun [F] for a bayonet and a U.M. one.
It makes a fellow proud [D] to be a soldier.
[C] [G] After [A] Johnny got through basic training, [C] he [Am] was a soldier [Bm] through and through when he was [C] done.
[Am] His effects were so well-rooted, that the next day he saluted [D] a good humor man, an usher, and a nun.
[Em]
[C] [B]
Now Fred's an intellectual, brings a book to every meal.
He likes the deep [G] philosophers, like Norman Vincent Peale.
[D] [G] He thinks [E] the Army's just the [F] thing, because he finds it broadening.
It makes [Am] a fellow proud to be a [G] [C] soldier.
[Db]
Now [C] Ed flunked out of second grade and never finished school.
He doesn't know [G] a shelter half [D] from an entrenching tool, but [C] he's going to be [E] a big success.
[F] He heads his class at [F] OCS.
It makes a fellow [Am] proud to be a soldier.
[E]
[C] Our old mess sergeant's taste buds have been shot off in the war, but his savory collations [D] add to our esprit de corps.
[C] To think of all [E] the marvelous ways they're using [Gb] plastics nowadays.
It makes a [Am] fellow proud to be a [C] soldier.
[G]
[E] [A] Our lieutenant is [G] the up-and-coming [C] type.
Played [Am] with soldiers as a boy, you [C] just can bet.
It is [Am] written in the stars, he will get his [Am] captain's bars, [D] but he hasn't got enough [G] box tops yet.
[B]
[C] Our captain has a handicap to cope with, sad to tell.
He's from Georgia, [G] and he doesn't speak the language very well.
[C] He used to be, so rumor [F] has, the dean of [Ebm] men at [F] Alcatraz.
It makes a fellow proud to be, what as [Am] a kid I vowed to be, what [Gb] electing [Am] me allowed to [Dm] be, a soldier.
[C] That is.
[Gb] [F] [Am]
Key:
C
Am
G
D
F
C
Am
G
_ _ _ [Eb] _ _ _ [Bb] _ _
_ _ [C] _ _ _ _ [Bb] _
I'm proud to be recently diverged from the United States Army, [A] so [N] that I am now, of course, in the radioactive reserve.
_ And the usual jokes about the Army aside, one of the many fine things one has to admit is the way that the Army has carried the American democratic ideal to its logical conclusion,
in the sense that not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed, and color, but also on the grounds of ability.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ Be that as it may, some of you may recall the publicity a few years ago, attendant upon the Army's search for an official Army song,
to be the counterpart of the Navy's Anchors Away and the Air Force's Up in the Air Junior Birdmen and so on. _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I was in basic training at the time, and I recall our platoon sergeant, who was an unfrocked Marine.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Actually, the change of service had come as quite a blow to him, because it meant that he had to memorize a new serial number, which took up most of his time. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ At any rate, I recall this sergeant's informing me and my roommates of _ this _ _ _ _ _ rather deplorable fact that the Army didn't have any official, excuse me, didn't have no official song. _ _ _
And suggested _ [Ab] that we work on this in our [Gb] copious free time.
[Bb] _ _ Well, I submitted the following song, which is called It Makes a Fellow Proud to be a Soldier, which I think demonstrates the proper spirit, you'll agree.
However, the fact that [B] it did not win the contest, I can ascribe only to blatant favoritism on the part of the judges.
_ _ [D] _
_ [Am] _ _ [G] _ The heart of every man in our platoon must [Em] swell with pride, [Am] for the nation's youth, the cream of which is marching [D] at his side.
For the [Em] fascinating rules [C] and regulations [Am] that we share, [D] and the quaint and [E] curious costumes that we're called upon to [D] wear.
[G] _ _ [A] _ _ _ _ _
[C] _ _ Now Al joined up to do his part, defending you and me.
He wants to fight [G] and bleed and kill and die for liberty.
[C] With the hell of [D] war, he's come to grips, policing [Gb] up the filter tips.
It makes [Am] a fellow proud to be a [Ab] soldier. _
[F] _ _ [Dm] _ _ _ When [C] Pete was only in the seventh grade, he stabbed a cop.
He's real R.A. material, [G] and he was glad to swap [C] his switchblade [D] and his old zip gun [F] for a bayonet and a U.M. one.
It makes a fellow proud [D] to be a soldier.
[C] _ [G] After _ _ [A] Johnny got through basic training, [C] he _ [Am] was a soldier [Bm] through and through when he was [C] done.
_ [Am] His effects were so well-rooted, that the next day he saluted [D] a good humor man, an usher, and a nun.
[Em] _ _
[C] _ _ [B] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ Now Fred's an intellectual, brings a book to every meal.
He likes the deep [G] philosophers, like Norman Vincent Peale.
[D] _ _ [G] He thinks [E] the Army's just the [F] thing, because he finds it broadening.
It makes [Am] a fellow proud to be a [G] [C] soldier.
_ _ [Db] _ _ _
_ Now [C] Ed flunked out of second grade and never finished school.
He doesn't know [G] a shelter half [D] from an entrenching tool, but [C] he's going to be [E] a big success.
[F] He heads his class at [F] OCS.
It makes a fellow [Am] proud to be a soldier.
_ [E] _
[C] Our old mess sergeant's taste buds have been shot off in the war, but his savory collations [D] add to our esprit de corps.
[C] To think of all [E] the marvelous ways they're using [Gb] plastics nowadays.
It makes a [Am] fellow proud to be a [C] soldier.
_ [G] _ _
[E] _ [A] Our lieutenant is [G] the up-and-coming [C] type.
Played [Am] with soldiers as a boy, you [C] just can bet.
It is [Am] written in the stars, he will get his [Am] captain's bars, [D] but he hasn't got enough [G] box tops yet.
_ _ [B] _ _
[C] Our captain has a handicap to cope with, sad to tell.
He's from Georgia, [G] and he doesn't speak the language very well.
[C] He used to be, so rumor [F] has, the dean of [Ebm] men at [F] Alcatraz.
It makes a fellow proud to be, what as [Am] a kid I vowed to be, what [Gb] electing [Am] me allowed to [Dm] be, a soldier.
[C] _ _ That is.
[Gb] _ _ _ _ _ [F] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [Am] _ _ _ _
_ _ [C] _ _ _ _ [Bb] _
I'm proud to be recently diverged from the United States Army, [A] so [N] that I am now, of course, in the radioactive reserve.
_ And the usual jokes about the Army aside, one of the many fine things one has to admit is the way that the Army has carried the American democratic ideal to its logical conclusion,
in the sense that not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed, and color, but also on the grounds of ability.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ Be that as it may, some of you may recall the publicity a few years ago, attendant upon the Army's search for an official Army song,
to be the counterpart of the Navy's Anchors Away and the Air Force's Up in the Air Junior Birdmen and so on. _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I was in basic training at the time, and I recall our platoon sergeant, who was an unfrocked Marine.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Actually, the change of service had come as quite a blow to him, because it meant that he had to memorize a new serial number, which took up most of his time. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ At any rate, I recall this sergeant's informing me and my roommates of _ this _ _ _ _ _ rather deplorable fact that the Army didn't have any official, excuse me, didn't have no official song. _ _ _
And suggested _ [Ab] that we work on this in our [Gb] copious free time.
[Bb] _ _ Well, I submitted the following song, which is called It Makes a Fellow Proud to be a Soldier, which I think demonstrates the proper spirit, you'll agree.
However, the fact that [B] it did not win the contest, I can ascribe only to blatant favoritism on the part of the judges.
_ _ [D] _
_ [Am] _ _ [G] _ The heart of every man in our platoon must [Em] swell with pride, [Am] for the nation's youth, the cream of which is marching [D] at his side.
For the [Em] fascinating rules [C] and regulations [Am] that we share, [D] and the quaint and [E] curious costumes that we're called upon to [D] wear.
[G] _ _ [A] _ _ _ _ _
[C] _ _ Now Al joined up to do his part, defending you and me.
He wants to fight [G] and bleed and kill and die for liberty.
[C] With the hell of [D] war, he's come to grips, policing [Gb] up the filter tips.
It makes [Am] a fellow proud to be a [Ab] soldier. _
[F] _ _ [Dm] _ _ _ When [C] Pete was only in the seventh grade, he stabbed a cop.
He's real R.A. material, [G] and he was glad to swap [C] his switchblade [D] and his old zip gun [F] for a bayonet and a U.M. one.
It makes a fellow proud [D] to be a soldier.
[C] _ [G] After _ _ [A] Johnny got through basic training, [C] he _ [Am] was a soldier [Bm] through and through when he was [C] done.
_ [Am] His effects were so well-rooted, that the next day he saluted [D] a good humor man, an usher, and a nun.
[Em] _ _
[C] _ _ [B] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ Now Fred's an intellectual, brings a book to every meal.
He likes the deep [G] philosophers, like Norman Vincent Peale.
[D] _ _ [G] He thinks [E] the Army's just the [F] thing, because he finds it broadening.
It makes [Am] a fellow proud to be a [G] [C] soldier.
_ _ [Db] _ _ _
_ Now [C] Ed flunked out of second grade and never finished school.
He doesn't know [G] a shelter half [D] from an entrenching tool, but [C] he's going to be [E] a big success.
[F] He heads his class at [F] OCS.
It makes a fellow [Am] proud to be a soldier.
_ [E] _
[C] Our old mess sergeant's taste buds have been shot off in the war, but his savory collations [D] add to our esprit de corps.
[C] To think of all [E] the marvelous ways they're using [Gb] plastics nowadays.
It makes a [Am] fellow proud to be a [C] soldier.
_ [G] _ _
[E] _ [A] Our lieutenant is [G] the up-and-coming [C] type.
Played [Am] with soldiers as a boy, you [C] just can bet.
It is [Am] written in the stars, he will get his [Am] captain's bars, [D] but he hasn't got enough [G] box tops yet.
_ _ [B] _ _
[C] Our captain has a handicap to cope with, sad to tell.
He's from Georgia, [G] and he doesn't speak the language very well.
[C] He used to be, so rumor [F] has, the dean of [Ebm] men at [F] Alcatraz.
It makes a fellow proud to be, what as [Am] a kid I vowed to be, what [Gb] electing [Am] me allowed to [Dm] be, a soldier.
[C] _ _ That is.
[Gb] _ _ _ _ _ [F] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [Am] _ _ _ _