Chicken Fat

composed by Meredith Willson, conducted by Bernie Green, and performed by Robert Preston (1962) [nb: as an extension of the Cold War competition (eg: space race, college bowl, Olympics) between the USSR and the USA, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the President's Council on Youth Fitness on 16 July 1956 (Exec Order #10673), which entity was renamed the White House Committee on Health and Fitness by the new Kennedy Administration, then later redesignated the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; under this authority, President John F. Kennedy commissioned Meredith Willson to compose a song in march tempo (Chicken Fat, also known as The Youth Fitness Song) to inspire Americans to exercise daily; this recording was distributed to all schools and a shorter version was played on cooperating radio stations for an indefinite period during its inaugural year; cf: Let's Move! program by Michelle Obama (2010)]

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!
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!