[Ads-l] rebel yell and yeehaw
Jonathan Lighter
wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM
Wed Feb 28 17:20:46 UTC 2024
Going a bit earlier in documentation (though without a rebel reference):
Pennsylvania native Hughie Jennings (1869-1928) became manager of the
Detroit Tigers in 1907.
1907 _South Bend Tribune_ (Oct. 7) 8: That's not Hughey Jennings' famous
yell. -- EE-YAH! (Look at 'em go!)
1908 _St. Louis Post-Dispatch_ (Sept. 5) 1: Ee-yah, ee-yah!
1914 _Semi-Weekly Star-Bulletin_ (Honolulu) (Apr. 21) 1: Ee-Yah! Ee-Yah!
U.S.A.!
1915 _Kansas City Star_ (June 28) 10: "Ee----yah!" That's Hughie Jennings'
battlecry out there on the coaching line at third base.
1918 _Northern Wyoming Herald_ (Cody, Wyo.) (Dec. 4) 5: Somewhere in
France, October 23, 1918...June and July 1918...At that time the Germans
got the full force of the Gyrene (Yank patois "Marine") battle cry "Ee-yah!"
And notably:
1909 _Pittsburgh Post_ (Oct. 9) 2: Jennings was active on the coaching
lines, however, and his "Yee-ahs" echoed and re-echoed above the vociferous
applause and din from the stands.... Emitting the famous "Yee-ah," the
Tiger chief gave Pittsburghers a real sample of coaching.
1909 _Pittsburgh Post_ (Oct. 10) 2: CHILDREN COPY "YEE-AH" FROM DETROIT'S
LEADER Meaningless, but Famous, Expression Taken Up by Young and Old.
JL
On Fri, Dec 15, 2023 at 3:21 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
wrote:
> An infantryman very clearly shouts an enthusiastic "Yee-ha!" in the movie
> _The Story of G.I. Joe_ (1945).
>
> JL
>
> On Wed, Mar 28, 2018 at 9:09 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Merriam-Webster online now defines "rebel yell" as follows:
>>
>> "a prolonged high-pitched yell often uttered by Confederate soldiers in
>> the American Civil War"
>>
>>
>> Close, but no cigar. "Any of various high-pitched yells..." would be
>> more accurate.
>>
>> The M-W editors have clearly fallen for the modern stereotype.
>>
>> JL
>>
>> On Sat, Jul 15, 2017 at 11:25 PM, Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I wonder what the connection is between "yee-haw"and "hee-haw" is, if
>>> any.
>>>
>>> Back in 1961, a tarheel barracks-mate, Edgar B. Lacey, Jr., demonstrated
>>> for me what he said was the rebel yell. It wasn't yee- or hee-haw, but it
>>> was certainly a yell. Sadly, though loud, it was so generic that he could
>>> easily have generated it just for the occasion. Also, he was in the same
>>> elite - no blacks, no Jews, no "rebels" - unit of Russian "linguists" -
>>> numbering ca. 200 head of EM - that I was a member of. So, he and the
>>> only
>>> two other white Southerners, the "Southern Gentleman" from Albany, GA,
>>> and
>>> the "Country Hick" from Pascagoula, MS, by way of Weslaco, TX, were not
>>> the
>>> kind of people that you'd trust or expect to know or care anything about
>>> the rebel yell.
>>>
>>> Of course, with enough people shouting it, anything works. The battle-cry
>>> of the once-mighty, much-feared Cossacks was a simple _gik_: [gi:! gi:!
>>> gi:!], shouted in falsetto.
>>>
>>> Those of sufficient maturity may recall the following battle-cry:
>>>
>>> Galaxy Magazine - Volume 8, Issues 1-6 - Page 137
>>> https://books.google.com/books?id=gLoSAAAAIAAJ
>>> 1954 - Snippet view
>>> And then the little man cupped his hands to his mouth and hooted
>>> mournfully
>>> into the twilight, _"Wa-wa-wa-wa-wabbit twacks!"_
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jul 15, 2017 at 9:28 PM, Jonathan Lighter <
>>> wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > A US Marine Corps recruiting poster of 1918 reads, remarkably,
>>> >
>>> > "E-E-E-Yah-Yip Go Over With U.S. Marines"
>>> >
>>> > https://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/3551356171/in/set-
>>> > 72157604204316251/
>>> >
>>> > I read the "Yip" as a clumsy way of conveying a high-pitched squeal,
>>> rather
>>> > than the representation of an actual vocable.
>>> >
>>> > An interesting relative of both the "yip-yip-yip" type of rebel yell
>>> and
>>> > the later, iconic "(Y)ee-ha!"
>>> >
>>> > JL
>>> >
>>> > On Sat, Jun 20, 2015 at 8:33 AM, Jonathan Lighter <
>>> wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >
>>> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>> > > -----------------------
>>> > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>> > > Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>>> > > Subject: Re: rebel yell and yeehaw
>>> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > -------------------
>>> > >
>>> > > Yesterday I found myself serendipitously driving behind a panel truck
>>> > that
>>> > > advertised
>>> > >
>>> > > YEE-HAW! A FINE SOUTHERN BEER.
>>> > >
>>> > > YOU'LL SAY IT WHEN YOU DRINK IT!
>>> > >
>>> > > Proof:
>>> > > https://trademarks.justia.com/864/49/you-ll-say-it-when-you-
>>> > > drink-86449331.html
>>> > >
>>> > > JL
>>> > >
>>> > > On Sat, Jun 13, 2015 at 5:02 PM, Jonathan Lighter <
>>> > wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
>>> > > wrote:
>>> > >
>>> > > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>> > > > -----------------------
>>> > > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>> > > > Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>>> > > > Subject: Re: rebel yell and yeehaw
>>> > > >
>>> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > -------------------
>>> > > >
>>> > > > Another early Yeehah!
>>> > > >
>>> > > > "The Cumberland Three" was a folk-pop band of the Kingston Trio
>>> sort.
>>> > In
>>> > > > 1960 they released a pair of LPs of souped-up Civil War songs on
>>> the
>>> > > > Roulette label: "Civil War Almanac: 'Yankees,' Vol. 1" and
>>> > "...'Rebels,'
>>> > > > Vol. 2."
>>> > > >
>>> > > > On track B3 of the latter album, an extreme "Yeehah!" is
>>> specifically
>>> > > > identified as "the rebel yell."
>>> > > >
>>> > > > The Cumberland Three, as far as I can tell, hailed from the West
>>> Coast.
>>> > > >
>>> > > > JL
>>> > > >
>>> > > > On Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 4:45 PM, Jonathan Lighter <
>>> > wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
>>> > > >
>>> > > > wrote:
>>> > > >
>>> > > > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>> > > > > -----------------------
>>> > > > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>> > > > > Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>>> > > > > Subject: Re: rebel yell and yeehaw
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > -------------------
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Now there's a whole book on the subject:
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> http://www.amazon.com/The-Rebel-Yell-Cultural-History/dp/0817318488
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Nothing linguistically new here, though there's a lot of
>>> discussion
>>> > of
>>> > > > the
>>> > > > > yell as a primary postbellum cultural symbol that seems to have
>>> been
>>> > > > ousted
>>> > > > > by the Confederate battle flag (actually, naval flag) only
>>> during the
>>> > > > Civil
>>> > > > > Rights Movement.
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Professor Warren's bulleted "key observations" include:
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > "As early as the summer of 1861 Southern screeching had occurred
>>> in
>>> > > both
>>> > > > > major theaters of the war. ...
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > "The Rebel yell seemingly lacked words, word sounds, rhyme, and
>>> any
>>> > > > > coherent rhythm....
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > "The yell resulted from bodies of men screeching in unison. The
>>> > > > collective
>>> > > > > effort created greater volume and complexity than could be
>>> achieved
>>> > by
>>> > > > any
>>> > > > > one soldier...."
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Etc. He also cites and dismisses claims that the yell originated
>>> at
>>> > > Troy,
>>> > > > > in Britain or Ireland, among the Mongols, or in the ululations of
>>> > > Muslim
>>> > > > > Spain. Maybe Indian war-whoops contributed, maybe they didn't.
>>> Maybe
>>> > > > slave
>>> > > > > shouts too, but maybe not. You just can't tell with the rebel
>>> yell;
>>> > > > > especially since, as Professor Warren correctly observes, there
>>> was
>>> > no
>>> > > > > single, standard, prescribed yell at all.
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Prof. Warren, author of an earlier book on Civil War literature,
>>> > cites
>>> > > a
>>> > > > > plethora of rebel yell information.
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Except, that is, for our multi-year discussion, which began in
>>> > 2006. I
>>> > > > > find no mention of "Yeehaw!" antebellum mules, "Red River," Stan
>>> > > > Freberg,
>>> > > > > "Doctor Strangelove," or the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment.
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > But there is a photo of the dust jacket of H. Allen Smith's
>>> book.
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > JL
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > On Mon, Feb 23, 2015 at 6:58 PM, Jonathan Lighter <
>>> > > > wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
>>> > > > > wrote:
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>> > > > > > -----------------------
>>> > > > > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>>> >
>>> > > > > > Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>>> > > > > > Subject: Re: rebel yell and yeehaw
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > -------------------
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > One day earlier in _The Oregonian_ (Portland), p. 11.
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > JL
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > On Mon, Feb 23, 2015 at 6:44 PM, Jonathan Lighter <
>>> > > > > wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
>>> > > > > > wrote:
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>> > > > > > > -----------------------
>>> > > > > > > Sender: American Dialect Society <
>>> ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>> > > > > > > Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>>> > > > > > > Subject: Re: rebel yell and yeehaw
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > -------------------
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > For the record, here is the earliest "Yee-ha[w/h]!" I've seen
>>> > that
>>> > > > > > > explicitly refers to it as a "rebel yell":
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > 1984 Joyce Lain Kennedy in _Springfield [Mass.] Republican_
>>> B-8:
>>> > > The
>>> > > > > next
>>> > > > > > > time your temper flares at the boss and you're tempted to
>>> > > "yee-haw!"
>>> > > > a
>>> > > > > > > rebel yell, remember who lost the Civil War.
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > That's 123 years after the start of said war.
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > JL
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 10:11 PM, Jonathan Lighter <
>>> > > > > > wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
>>> > > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > wrote:
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>> > > > > > > > -----------------------
>>> > > > > > > > Sender: American Dialect Society <
>>> ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>>> > >
>>> > > > > > > > Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>>> > > > > > > > Subject: Re: rebel yell and yeehaw
>>> > > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > -------------------
>>> > > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > > Make that "(1959)."
>>> > > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > > JL
>>> > > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > >
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > > > > > > The American Dialect Society -
>>> http://www.americandialect.org
>>> > > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > --
>>> > > > > > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't
>>> handle
>>> > the
>>> > > > > > truth."
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
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>>> http://www.americandialect.org
>>> > > > > > >
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > --
>>> > > > > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't
>>> handle the
>>> > > > > truth."
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > > > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > --
>>> > > > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle
>>> the
>>> > > > truth."
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>> > > > >
>>> > > >
>>> > > >
>>> > > >
>>> > > > --
>>> > > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>>> > > truth."
>>> > > >
>>> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>> > > >
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > > --
>>> > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>>> > truth."
>>> > >
>>> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>> > >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>>> truth."
>>> >
>>> > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> -Wilson
>>> -----
>>> All say, "How hard it is that we have to die!"---a strange complaint to
>>> come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
>>> -Mark Twain
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>> truth."
>>
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
--
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
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