"On Wisconsin" is not only the University "fight
song," but it has also been designated as the official State Song
of Wisconsin. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular school songs in
the country and has been adopted by thousands of high school bands as
their own. It is rare to attend a high school football game anywhere in
the U.S. and not hear "On Wisconsin" being performed by at
least one of the school bands. The melody of this famous song was
composed in 1909 by W.T. Purdy, a corporation clerk who prior to that
time had never set foot in Wisconsin. The words were supplied by Carl
Beck, a former University of Wisconsin student. These two young men in
one day produced the song that John Philip Sousa called "the finest
of college marching songs." Traditions such as this make Wisconsin
a personal university to faculty, students, and alumni everywhere.
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On,
Wisconsin!
On,
Wisconsin!
Plunge
right through that line!
Run
the ball clear down the field,
A
touchdown sure this time.
On,
Wisconsin!
On,
Wisconsin!
Fight
on for her fame
Fight!
Fellows!
Fight,
fight, fight!
We'll
win this game.
On,
Wisconsin!
On,
Wisconsin!
Stand
up, Badgers, sing!
"Forward"
is our driving spirit,
Loyal
voices ring.
On,
Wisconsin!
On,
Wisconsin!
Raise
her glowing flame
Stand,
Fellows,
Let
us now
Salute
her name!
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For nearly a century this song of praise (originally a Latin Hymn
written by the famous French operatic composer, Charles Gounod) has held
a special place in the hearts of Wisconsin students, fans, and alumni.
It was in 1898 that Henry Dyke Sleeper, a young instructor in the
University's School of Music, arranged the music, provided words, and
published the new version of the song he called "Varsity
Toast." Today it is impossible to attend an official university
function without hearing those simple but stirring strains. In 1934
Wisconsin Band Director, Ray Dvorak, introduced the now famous "arm
swinging" which has made performance of this alma mater one of the
most thrilling "sights" as well as sounds to be found in any
stadium in the world.
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Varsity!
Varsity!
U-rah-rah!
Wisconsin,
Praise
to thee we sing!
Praise
to thee, our Alma Mater,
U-rah-rah!
Wisconsin!
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This catchy song was introduced to the Wisconsin campus by
Professor Julian Olson, one of the most colorful faculty characters in
the university's history. In 1919 while planning an alumni dinner he
wrote the words to what was then called "The Badger Ballad"
and had the words set to music by Charles Mills, then Director of the
School of Music. Countless verses have been added since that time, and
it remains a favorite song at informal Badger gatherings. The UW Band
traditionally closes each pregame performance with this sprightly
melody.
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If
you want to be a Badger,
Just
come along with me,
By
the bright shining light,
By
the light of the moon;
If
you want to be a Badger,
Just
come along with me,
By
the bright shining light of the moon.
By
the light of the moon,
By
the light of the moon,
By
the bright shining light,
By
the light of the moon.
If
you want to be a Badger,
Just
come along with me,
By
the light of the moon.
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More commonly known as "Bud", this is the newest
addition to the musical traditions of Wisconsin. The song was first
performed for university functions by the Varsity Band during the hockey
season of 1972, but it was at the NCAA Championship in 1973 that the
tune received its first great popular acceptance as it was played by the
Band in the Boston Garden, in hotel lobbies, and in the streets of
historic Boston. From that time on the song has become a phenomenon at
all athletic contests ... at alumni events ... and even at commencement
exercises. (And although it causes the upper deck to "sway,"
it is bound to keep echoing in Camp Randall with great regularity.) Why
has it caught on so universally throughout the state? No one can answer
except to suggest, "When You Say WIS-CON-SIN, You've Said It
All!"
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CHEER,
BOYS, CHEER (HOT TIME)
This well known melody, which had
great popularity at the turn of the century, was written in 1896 by
Theodore M. Metz and was later given a UW flavor by Philip Allen, who
graduated from the University in 1899 with a law degree. "Hot
Time" (Cheer, Boys, Cheer!) is now traditionally used by the
Wisconsin Band as a "fire-up song" which was played immediately
before the kick-off at a football game...the tip-off in basketball...and
the face-off at each hockey match. In Camp Randall it is still used
to signal a Badger touchdown and is followed immediately by On,
Wisconsin after the extra point has been attempted.
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Cheer,
boys, cheer!
Wisconsin's
got the ball.
U-rah-rah
Oh,
won't they take a fall?
For
when we hit their line,
They'll
have no line at all.
There'll
be a hot time
At
Wisconsin tonight.
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