Reveille

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This article is about the bugle call. For other uses, see Reveille (disambiguation)

Reveille (see also pronunciation differences) is most often associated with the military; it is chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise. The name comes from the French for "wake up". The tune used in the Commonwealth of Nations is different from the one used in the United States, but they are used in analogous ways: to ceremonially start the day.

The U.S. version of "Reveille"
The U.S. version of "Reveille"

In modern times the U.S. military plays (or sounds) "Reveille" in the morning, generally near sunrise, though its exact time varies from base to base. While "Reveille" is played, the national flag is raised. On many U.S. military bases, it is accompanied with a cannon shot. As it is played all military personnel are required to come to attention and present a salute to either the flag itself (if visible) or the music (if the flag is not visible.

In the Indian Army, "Reveille" is sounded at 06:00 (or sunrise), and the regimental colours are hoisted. As this also signals the start of the physical training parade, servicemen for practical reasons must awake prior to the sounding of Reveille.

In the Irish Army, "Reveille" is sounded at dawn and at military wreath-laying ceremonies, as on the National Day of Commemoration.

In Commonwealth Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday services, "The Last Post" begins the period of silent reflection, and "Reveille" ends it. The two tunes symbolize sunset and sunrise respectively, and therefore death and resurrection. (Sometimes "Reveille" is complemented or replaced by The Rouse, a bugle call commonly mistaken for "Reveille", although these are actually two different tunes.)

Both Commonwealth and United States "Reveilles" can be played with any combination of valves (or all open valves), because they were first played on a bugle, which lacks valves and is played by altering the embouchure.

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[edit] Lyrics

Although there are no official lyrics to Reveille, these unofficial lyrics for the Commonwealth "Reveille" have been recently popularized[1]:

Rev-eil-lee! Rev-eil-lee is sounding
The bugle calls you from your sleep; it is the break of day.
You've got to do your duty or you will get no pay.
Come, wake yourself, rouse yourself out of your sleep
And throw off the blankets and take a good peek at all
The bright signs of the break of day, so get up and do not delay.

Get Up!

Or-der-ly officer is on his round!
And if you're still a-bed he will send you to the guard
And then you'll get a drill and that will be a bitter pill:
So be up when he comes, be up when he comes,
Like a soldier at his post, a soldier at his post, all ser-ene.

To the U.S. tune:

I can't get 'em up,
I can't get 'em up,
I can't get 'em up this morning;
I can't get 'em up,
I can't get 'em up,
I can't get 'em up at all!
The corporal's worse than the privates,
The sergeant's worse than the corporals,
Lieutenant's worse than the sergeants,
And the captain's worst of all!
< repeat top six lines >

An alternate rendition to the U.S. tune above:

I can't get 'em up,
I can't get 'em up,
I can't get 'em up this morning;
I can't get 'em up,
I can't get 'em up,
I can't get 'em up at all!
And tho' the sun starts peeping,
And dawn has started creeping,
Those lazy bums keep sleeping,
They never hear my call!
< repeat top six lines >



[edit] Music

Both "Reveilles" are composed entirely with notes from a Major triad (i.e. tonic, major third, and dominant). This makes them appropriate for playing on the bugle.

[edit] History

"Reveille" first originated in the Middle Ages as a wake-up call for soldiers. After this song was played, another song called The Rouse would be played, telling the soldiers to get out of bed. This tradition continued over the centuries, and is still serving the same purpose that it did during the Middle Ages. It is now played in many countries for many armies.

[edit] External links

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