“Hep!”

“Hep! Hep! Hep! Hep!

Private Rickett change your step!”

Bawls the sergeant now and then

To his troop o’ tramping men,

With his eye along the row

Where the rhythmic puttees show;

Then the private he gets “hep”,

Gives a hitch and changes step.

For a moment all goes well,

Then the sergeant starts to yell:

“Hep! Hep! Hep! Hep!

Private Bonehead change your step!”

We have columned “left” or “right”,

Someone’s lost his distance quite,

Jumped ahead and lost his step,

Thus the sergeant hollers “hep!”

“Hep! Hep! Hep! Hep!

Soldiers have to keep in step;

Squad formations, platoons, then

Someone’s out o’ step again.

Bawls the sergeant, hot and red:

“Change your step, you wooden head!

Everybody keep in step,

That is why we holler hep!”

July 23, 1917