Jimmy Driftwood - Songs Of Billy Yank And Johnny Reb

I like much of Jimmie Driftwood's music and this song a lot. I couldn't find its lyrics on the internet so I recorded them for my own sake, and the rest of Jimmie's fans too.

How Do You Like The Army by Jimmie Driftwood

Hup 2,3,4
Hup 2,3,4
hup 2,3,4 How do you like the army
how do you like the army

Whiskey is good medicine
it helps with great and small
But when you’re in the army
headquarters gets it all
they drink it by the barrel
they drink it by the yard
but if a private touches it
they put him under guard

ohhh

how do you like the army
the rootin tootin army
the high fluting army
where a soldier is a mule
oh
how do you like the army
the rootin tootin army
the high fluting army
where the big bass buttons rule

the generals eat the chicken kill
they cackle in their sleep
the colonels and the captains
eat all the cows and sheep
when soldiers get so hungry
they steal a mangy pig
the biggest dump in dixie
they’re sure to have to dig
oh
how do you like the army
the rootin tootin army
the high fluting army
where a soldier is a mule
oh
how do you like the army
the rootin tootin army
the high fluting army
where the big brass buttons rule


and when we take a city
they put us all on duty
the general and his officers
go in to judge the beauty
the generals get the choices
the majors get the pickens
the captains get the servants
and the privates get the thickens (?not sure about “thickens”?)

oh
how do you like the army
the rootin tootin army
the high fluting army
where a soldier is a mule
oh
how do you like the army
the rootin tootin army
the high fluting army
where the big brass buttons rule

hup 2, 3, 4,
hup 2, 3, 4

Excellent Jimmy and Chet Atkins!

Absolutely great! Driftwood' and Chet Atkins on banjo,
A real gem,

That s History in Song! Thanks to Jimmy s didactic qualities and Chet Atkins Excellent Studio work

God bless the south

Classic Jimmie Driftwood. This song was on one of the German records my dad gave me in the late eighties.

No i have never seen that song. Have you the cd box with the songs that he do in rca also?

I have that lp .1960 as i think .hops to have more lp with that good Music man

better to hear on an lp

I have the  lp :-)

Great! Beaütifully arranged by Chet Atkins

Such a nice way to teach, thanks Jimmy,

Good work Jimmy and Chet Atkins!

Chet Atkins arranged

I Imagine the whole Studio crew having a hard time keeping from laughing