Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Chicken Fat Americana

Chicken Fat "The Youth Fitness Song" - Robert Preston
(written by Meredith Wilson)

entered by Jeff Morris; May 22, 1995 & June 1, 1995

This record was made circa 1962. It was commissioned by President John F. Kennedy for the newly formed President's Council On Physical Fitness. A copy was sent to every school in the United States to be played over the intercom so students could do calisthenics to it. Speaking of J. F. Kennedy, I still own a 45 rpm record that I got as a child. It was produced by Peter Pan Records. From the series: Sing a Song of Presidents. Titled: John F. Kennedy. I wonder if it is worth anything? I can still sing along with that one. See!

John F. Kennedy
A remarkable young man was he
At age 43
Elected to the presidency
hmm hmmm hm hm hm hm
Aaa hm hm hm hmm

Note: There are two different versions of the Chicken Fat song. The "Disc Jockey Version" (2:12) and the "School Version" (6:30). I am hoping that this will be an interactive post so take a break, get off your duff. Ready...go! The lyrics follow just in case you would like to sing along. Hehehe!



"Disc Jockey Version"

Touch down
Every morning
Ten times!
Not just
Now and then.
Give that chicken fat
Back to the chicken,
And don't be chicken again.
No, don't be chicken again.

Push up
Every morning
Ten times.
Push up
Starting low.
Once more on the rise.
Nuts to the flabby guys!
Go, you chicken fat, go away!
Go, you chicken fat, go!

Left! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
Was it right, right that it should be left?
Yes, I left! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
It was right (left), right (left) that it should be left!

Now, touch your toes with me. Ready!

Touch down (up)
Every morning (down)
Ten times!
(Three!) Not just (up)
(Four!) Now and then (up)
(Five!) Give that (up) chicken fat
(Six!) Back to the (up) chicken and
(Seven!) Don't be (up) chicken (Eight!) again
(up) No, (Nine!) don't be (up) chicken again. (Ten...halt!)

Hit the dirt! Hit!
Push ups next,
Nice and steady.
Not too fast.
Ready!

Push up (down)
Every morning (up)
Ten times!
Push up,
Starting low.
(Down! That's five.) Once more (down) on the rise
(Six!) Nuts to the (down) flabby guys.
(Seven!) Go, you (down) chicken fat, (Everybody sing!) go away.
Go, you chicken fat, go!

"School Version"

Touch down
Every morning
Ten times!
Not just
Now and then.
Give that chicken fat
Back to the chicken,
And don't be chicken again.
No, don't be chicken again.

Push up
Every morning
Ten times.
Push up
Starting low.
Once more on the rise.
Nuts to the flabby guys!
Go, you chicken fat, go away!
Go, you chicken fat, go!

Good morning!
Hands on hips, place!
Now then, touch your toes with me. Ready!

Touch down (up)
Every morning (down)
Ten times!
(Up) Not just (d-) [he mistakenly starts to say "down" here]
(Four!) Now and then (up)
(Five!) Give that (up) chicken fat
(Six!) Back to the (up) chicken and
(Seven!) Don't be (up) chicken (Eight!) again
(up) No, (Nine!) don't be (up) chicken again. (Ten...halt!)

Hit the dirt! Hit!
Push ups next,
Nice and steady.
Not too fast.
Ready!

Push up (down)
Every morning (up)
Ten times!
Push up,
Starting low.
(Down! That's five.) Once more (down) on the rise
(Six!) Nuts to the (down) flabby guys.
Go, you chicken fat, go away (down).
(Nine) Go, you (down) chicken fat, go!
Ten, and halt!

Now, struggle up to your feet!
Strug...(Struggle!)
March in place, march!

Left! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
Was it right, right that it should be left?
Yes, I left! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
It was right (left), right (left) that it should be left!

And halt! One, two.
Next, sittups.
Everybody's favorite, so on your back, drop.
All right girls, you're in this too.
Arms over head, flop!
C'mon girls, now!
Sit up!

Sit up (down)
Every morning (up)
Ten times
Sit up (down)
(Up) On your seat. (down)
(Five) Swing that rusty gate.
(Six) Don't drop the tempo, mate.
(Seven) Can't win draggin' your feet.
(Eight) No, (nine) can't win draggin' your feet.
Ten, and halt!

Now on your feet, up!
Everybody, hands on hips, place.
Twist your trunk to the left, ready!

Twist left, front,
Now the right side,
Ten times!
Twist left, front
(Right) Grunting low (front)
Grunt!
(Ungh!) Louder!
(Ungh!) Front, now!
Left and front and everybody sing!
Go, you chicken fat, go!

And, halt.
Fingers back of your neck, lace.
Right foot forward, place.
The pogo spring, landing on alternate feet.
Ready!

Spring left,
Spring right,
Higher!
Higher!
Up, down,
Up, down,
Higher!
Higher!
Wait, not too high!
Up, down,
Up, down,
Up, down,
Halt!

Drop your hands to the side, feet together, place.
Overhead, clap, and jump to stride.
Known as the jumping jack far and wide.
All right, are you ready? Ready!

Jump, two! Clap, Two!
Clap, two! Clap, slap!
Clap, slap! Clap, slap!
Jump, two! Jump, two!
Jump, it's good for you.
Three more is all we do.
Jump, two!
And...halt and sing!
Go, you chicken fat, go!

March in place,
March! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
Was it right, right that it should be left?
Oh, I left! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
It was right (left), right (left) and halt.
One, two.

Palms up, arms to the side, raise!
Next we're gonna do backwards circles,
Ready? Ready!

Circle round, round, round,
Back and around, back and around.
Back and around, back and around.
And back and around, and reverse.
And around, Front and around.
Front and around, front and around.
Front and around, and halt.

Arms to the side, place.
On your back, drop.
And now, raise your legs in the air, raise!
It's the bicycle ride!

This was my favorite part!

And, pump, pump, pump, pump,
Pump, pump, pump, pump,
Pump, pump, pump, pump,
Pump, pump, and...
Halt.
On your feet, up
Quickly, quickly, next
Inhale, arms sweep up inward,
Exhale, arms out and down.
(Inhale, arms sweep up inward,
Exhale, outward, down.)
Ready!

Inhale, slow
Every morning
Exhale, clear down.
Inhale, take the air!
Down and around and inhale.
Grab that oxygen,
Exhale and try again!
You're not getting your share.
(Clear down) No, (inhale) you're not getting your share!
On the down, halt!

The tortoise and the hare next.
First the tortoise.
Bend the elbow, and run in place.
Ready? Ready!

Running, (two)
(Run)
Like a tortoise,
(Okay)
Too far, and too slow.
Now double up, ready!
(Running)
Run two three four,
(Like a hare)
Run two three four,
(Now you are)
Run two three four,
(Getting there)
Run two three four,
Go you
(Run two three four)
Chicken fat,
(Run two three four)
(Go away!)
Everybody sing!
Go, you chicken fat, go!
Go!
Go!
Dismissed!

Oh...the memories! Whew I am tired reading this.




The above video is American propaganda that I learned at school. I do remember having to practice the duck and cover a couple of times. My dad did start digging a bomb shelter in our crawl space. He gave up because he did not know what to do with all the dirt. I think that he figured out that it was not going to be effective against an A-bomb as well. I do not know why people thought the "duck and cover" would work. It is a mystery to me. I find this video hard to believe. Every Friday the air raid sirens would be tested. I always wondered what would happen if we were to get bombed on Friday.

5 comments:

Sue said...

Those are hilarious. I am surprised you found these.

The Invisible Mo said...

I lived on a military base in those days. We had drills where we had to go to the bomb shelter designated for our neighborhood. They always talked about the "reds" coming to get us. I'm sure there was more said than that, but that is what stuck with me. I used to have nightmares of armies of men in red marching toward us.
We did the exercise routine you published. I didn't remember it until it was brought up over at Iowa Avenue.

Christine said...

Mo: I grew up in Colorado Springs. NOARD was to the west of us under Cheyenne Mountain where we could see it every day.Because we lived there we thought that we would be the first ones bombed. We lived around a lot of military people. I was always afraid and the air raid sirens frightened me.

Fluffy said...

I never even heard of the chicken fat song. They did make us all get under the school once. There was so much protesting that it was never done again. My father thought it was a bunch of horses**t. That's why I loved him.

Momisodes said...

W.O.W! That chicken fat song is incredibly strange...but then again, in a few decade, half the songs we listen to now will be too.

I never understood the duck and cover either...