Michigan's three fight songs
All this talk of this stupid idea of a "thematic fight song to be played at University athletic events" pushed me to make this post.
The Victors is obviously not going anywhere. It is the #1 fight song of its kind. We all know the story behind it. It was penned in 1898 by student Louis Elbel on his way home from Chicago when Michigan beat Chicago 12-11 to give them their first Western Conference championship.
But what about the two other fight songs that Michigan had?
From 1900-1909, The Victors disappeared from campus. The only place The Victors could be found was on piano sheet music. It was NOT played by the MMB at football games or rallies.
Michigan's fight song pre-1898 and from that time period from 1900-1909 was "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight". If that name sounds familiar to you, Wisconsin plays their version of that song after they score a touchdown as does WMU.
Michigan's "Hot Time" had special Michigan lyrics that are as of right now lost to history. I've done some research for them and have yet to find anything. Might require a trip to Bentley.
When The Victors was eventually rediscovered, at the time, it didn't make much sense. Michigan was an independent, having left the Western Conference in 1907. So, the song you hear once a game at Football games during pregame was created to be Michigan's new fight song from 1912-1916. That's right, Varsity, became the official fight song and The Victors once again vanished.
It wasn't until 1917, when Michigan re-joined the Western Conference (now-B1G) that The Victors returned as Michigan's primary fight song with Varsity being occasionally played.
tl;dr- Michigan should play Varsity more than once a game. It's a great song that people should probably get to know. And maybe just maybe, if someone comes across our lyrics for "Hot Time", the band could play that once in awhile.
Hey, you never know. Another verse of The Victors that was eventually discovered in the 2000s.
Varsity-
Men of Michigan onto victory, Ev'ry man in ev'ry play.
Michigan expects her Varsity to win today!
Rah! Rah! Win for Michigan!
Chorus
Varsity, Down the field.
Never yield, Raise high our shield.
March on to victory for Michigan,
And the Maize and Blue
Oh Varsity, We're for you,
Here for you to cheer for you.
We have no fear for you. Oh Varsity!
February 11th, 2015 at 1:18 PM ^
Video embed because it's not working in the OP for some reason.
February 11th, 2015 at 2:06 PM ^
The kid watches varsity and the victors (glee club on youtube) before bed most nights and always cheers "Go Blue!" at the end.
February 11th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
I expected more dancing and a guy in a wheelchair....
February 11th, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^
I really don't like Varsity, personally.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
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February 11th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^
Interesting and somewhat sad story about Varsity:
J. Fred Lawton, who co-wrote Varsity with Earl Moore, was honored for the song at halftime of the '68 Wisconsin game. He conducted the MMB's performance of the song, went up to the press box for the second half, and dropped dead of a massive heart attack.
February 11th, 2015 at 7:21 PM ^
Ron Johnson set the Michigan single game rushing record:
374 yds on 31 carries
February 11th, 2015 at 4:03 PM ^
There was a stretch around the early 2000s when they would display the lyrics to "Varsity" on the scoreboards. It was gradually having an effect and people were starting to sing along to it. Then they stopped doing that. I don't know why.
September 21st, 2017 at 2:30 AM ^
My cousin and I always sang that song together at games (we were about 14 and learned the song because the lyrics were on the scoreboard). It's a great song! They should still put the lyrics on the scoreboard for Varsity and also for the Yellow and Blue.
February 11th, 2015 at 4:45 PM ^
The MMB has played it in EVERY pregame since at least 1970, and probably before. I can't remember if we played it at road games or not.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
I wouldn't mind hearing more Varsity. We didn't play it much in the MMB when I was in school, which is a shame because it's a perfectly servicable fight song. Nowhere near The Victors, of course.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
Why is this a stupid idea? I'd prefer to hear the song before I pass judgment.
i suspect that some may have thought "Varsity" and "The Victors" to be bad ideas at the time.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
You got the "Varsity" lyrics wrong. I always sing it: "Varsity, varsity, varsity, oh varsity, varsity, varsity, oh var-si-ty"
February 11th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
In the tuba section we had some other lyics:
Dance team, I love you
I love you oh Dance team
take off...
ok, I'll stop there.
February 11th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
TUBAS!!!
February 11th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
What?
February 11th, 2015 at 8:34 PM ^
Good. Just checking.
February 11th, 2015 at 7:09 PM ^
Glad my family isn't the only one who does that, I thought we were just the weird outliers.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:30 PM ^
I like Varsity. I sing it in full voice during every pre-game. Hopefully one day, those around me will join in. Hasn't happened yet, but that'll never stop me.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
Right with ya.
I think it's because not many people know the lyrics and/or story behind it.
You hear it once a game and that's in pregame. Maybe the band could play the last line of Varsity after first downs and alternate with Let's Go Blue on maybe the next first down.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^
As I recall, there was a short period of time when they displayed the lyrics on the video boards. Difficult to sync it with the band, of course, given the time it takes sound to travel down the field. Still, I wish they'd put the lyrics back up there and maybe more folks would sing. It's a good song with over a century of history behind it.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^
There were a bunch of sort-of attempted fight songs in the early 20th century. If you track down a copy of Michigan's Favorite College Songs (my copy is the 3rd edition, 1915), there are a slew of "Field Songs" and other Victors-esque substitutes. "Win for Michigan," "Michigan Men," "Fight, Men of Michigan," things like that. But not "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight."
Pretty much all of them are quite terrible, especially printed alongside Varsity and The Victors.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:50 PM ^
February 11th, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^
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The University of Michigan Songbook Sesquicentennial Edition 1817-1967. It was compiled and edited by Philip A. Duey, and it was published by The University of Michigan in 1967.
Here's another songbook that I've seen on ebay.
February 11th, 2015 at 2:04 PM ^
I'll never get tired of "The Victors," but also like "Varsity." They'll always be popular in my book.
Regarding the stupid idea put forth by Weiss & Weinberg:
- They've got a lot of gall to ask for money from CSG for song development, when they are as well heeled as they are. Ridiculous.
- As said multiple times, it is an organic thing. I don't know when there will be another fight song or MIchigan song. But I do believe it will happen . . . sometime in my lifetime. And virtually everyone will intuitively know that it is a good thing. Elbel was a Michigan music student. Perhaps another Michigan music student will come up with a wonderful relevant enjoyable catchy Michigan fight song. I'm not waiting for it, or expecting it, or predicting it. But I'd be fine if it happens some day. Just not the way that Weiss proposed.
EDIT: I am among those who really like the "Yellow and Blue." Love to hear it. Simple melody, recognizable, enjoyable. What I really need to do is put together my own personal CD with all of these wonderful songs.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
Short version: if I want to hear circus music, I'll go to the circus.
Every time I hear varsity, I think of a circus. It's just not an inspiring song.
I'm fine with them continuing to play it once a game as history is important to me. Any more than that would be incredibly annoying when the incalculably better song is available.
Edit: I'm not intending to denigrate the history or value of the lyrics. I simply compare the music to The Victors and I feel that whoever decided to shelve Victors in the first place (way back then), regardless of whether it made sense, was probably not thinking clearly.
Edit: This thread and all threads about Michigan history are AWESOME. People may think this stuff is irrelevant, but Michigan history is pretty fascinating. We always stayed through Varsity and I would complain under my breath about clowns, but should I be fortunate enough to get back to a game (I live in Orlando), I will stay and listen to it front to back.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
You mean michigan's one fight song?
February 11th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
We also have the Yellow and Blue that no one seems to care about. It's also just okay.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
There's also the University Hymn, Laudes Atque Carmina. Which, if not for the impossible-to-memorize Latin (and single word of Greek, supposedly) lyrics, is far preferable to the Yellow and Blue.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^
solely to defend the Yellow and Blue's honor. Singing that a cappella after wins in Hockey Band remains my iconic Michigan Memory.
EDIT: If you can listen to this without getting emotional you have no soul.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^
must have gotten some in my eye.
I sang in the glee club for three years. At the end of the fall and spring concerts we always invited any former glee club member in the audience to join us on stage to sing the yellow and blue. Can a current student indicate if that is still true?
Having a a sixty or seventy year old stand next to me and perform that song with us really gave me a special sense of the tradition that bound decades of generations of Michigan alumi together.
For the record, I still remember the words to Laudes.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^
After every Basketball & Hockey game the students & fans who know it sing it.
Football is different because they save it for the postgame MMB shows. So it's all who remain.
It's not as mainstream as The Victors, but it still is more known than Varsity, I'd say.
My friend who's a freshman at U-M knows The Yellow and Blue but not Varsity per texting earlier about this awful idea but together by the two schmucks for "Hail & Unite".
February 11th, 2015 at 4:45 PM ^
Only playing the alma mater at the end of the post-game band show It goes a long way to explaining why a good chuink of the stadium only knows one word from the song.
February 11th, 2015 at 6:27 PM ^
mmm hmmm mumble mumble mmm hmm hmmm...HAIL!!! (with fist in the air)
mmm hmmm mmm...
February 11th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
Yellow and Blue. Always stayed to sing it after bball games. I wonder why we don't do it at football games?
February 11th, 2015 at 1:57 PM ^
February 11th, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^
When I was in the MMB, there was a small group of us who wanted to encourage the team and students to do this.
It was shot down by the band administrative staff before it even got to the director's desk. Total non-starter.
February 11th, 2015 at 4:42 PM ^
How's it much different from the MMB waiting for the players to come jump on the wall after a win and sing The Victors? They do that now.
February 11th, 2015 at 2:36 PM ^
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February 11th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^
Everyone knows one word :)
February 11th, 2015 at 2:50 PM ^
gives me deeper chills than the victors.
Nothing like being arm and arm with your best friends singing it after basketball games regardless of a win or not
February 11th, 2015 at 4:10 PM ^
"The Yellow and Blue" is the alma mater. Very different from a fight song.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:41 PM ^
Varsity seems like you're casual college fight song that everybody has while The Victors seems like the face of college football.
February 11th, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^
The Victors, if you think about it, isn't even really a "fight song". Most fight songs are for a team about to take the field., and how said song hopes they are victorious.
In classic Michigan Arrogance fashion, The Victors is about a team that is awesome because they already won the game! Always cracks me up.
February 11th, 2015 at 2:24 PM ^
We're not arrogant we're just better!
February 11th, 2015 at 8:43 PM ^
Effin' A!
February 11th, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^
OT, the flip side of our arrogance is the inferiority complex that comes right out of the Sparty fight song, where they sing "see, their team is weakening, we're going to win this game."
In other words, MSU success is not related to their own overwhelming talent or ability; instead, it's a function of how the other team's S&C program has failed them. Their focus is not on their own team, they're more concerned with the other team, namely, us.
I've tried to throw that analysis at various Sparties at some late-night sessions but it's often scorned. What else is new?
February 11th, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
Varsity is awesome and always gets me pumped in pregame.
Maybe the crowd is dead when they play it because no one knows the words!! I think it would help if they put the words on the scoreboard while they played it.
Over the past 4 to 5 years, my buddy and I always sang Varsity loudly in the student section as the MMB played it. Can't tell you how many weird looks we got and even a few, "Wow, you know that song?". That makes me sad. We all love Michigan tradition and Varsity is part of it.
February 11th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^
Write a letter to the AD and see if they will do that!
February 11th, 2015 at 1:51 PM ^
It rarely gets any play, but Ill bet it is a lot better than whatever they might come up with.