1905 | 1920 (below) | NEW! 1929 | 1941

Reprinted from The University of Chicago Song Book (Undergraduate Council, 1920). I believe that copyright has expired by now; please contact me if this is not the case. Mostly these are piano scores.

Also see the Alma Mater and Fight Song.

The March of the Maroons (commonly called "Plunge" by the old Band. By Campbell Marvin '12.)

Plunge, plunge on through the line
And fight for old Chicago's fame;
Smash into ev'ry play,
Chicago grit will win this game.
As we roll up the score
The cheers resound from high and low:
Tear through the line again and go,
Chicago Go! Go! Go!

Campus Even Song (also as male quartet. By permission of the Blackfriars. By Donald Breed and Roderick Peattie.)

Now the shadows softly stealing,
Shroud with gray old Mitchell tow'r;
Now the lyric chimes are pealing,
Ringing in the twilight hour.
Now with love our hearts o'er flowing,
Sing we Alma Mater's fame,
In our paean ever growing,
To the glory of her name.

Tall and straight the gothic spires,
Stand against the dark'ning skies,
Turrets gleam with fading fires,
And the crimson evening dies.
Then we raise the lusty chorus,
Singing Alma Mater's praise,
May her banner long float o'er us,
Strength to her and length of days.

Hello! Bello! (w/perm of Blackfriars. By B. I. Bell and R. J. Rosenthal.)

Hello! Bello! Go, Chicago, go.
Hello! Bello! Down with ev'ry foe.
Fight like men today boys, never give in.
For Chicago, we know that you can win.
Hello! Bello! Wearers of the C.
Hello! Bello! On to victory.
From the crowded bleachers,
Hear our mighty yell, as we cheer for Varsity.
(Yell) (Yell) (Yell) (Yell)

Chicago will shine tonight, Chicago will shine.
Chicago will shine tonight, Chicago will shine.
Chicago will shine tonight, Chicago will shine.
The sun goes up the moon goes down, Chicago will shine.

C Stands For Cherished Courage (by Carl Burton)

Harvard proudly floats her crimson banner,
Yale's flag as blue as the azure sky;
Iowa's flag bathed in golden sunbeams,
Dartmouth proudly floats her green on high, green on high.
The Card'nal of Wisconsin floats to Northland.
Pennsylvania boasts her Navy,
But there is no better letter worn on any hero's sweater
Than our "C" of Victory.

C stands for cherished courage,
H for her honor high,
I for her iron-bound interest,
C for her college cry, CHI-CA-GO,
A for her aim so ardent,
G for her gallantry,
O stands for Old Man, the best coach in this land, the big "C" for victory.

For Chicago Alma Mater (by Donald Richberg)

For Chicago, Alma Mater,
And the honor of her name,
Her sons shall raise, with loyal praise,
The glory of her fame.
For Chicago, Alma Mater,
Just as long as her life shall run,
Hearts once in tune, beneath the old Maroon,
Forever she has won.
   (repeat)

1893 (by F. Frank Steigmeyer)

Oh, we came here in the autumn of eighteen ninety-three;
A half a dozen buildings, had then the U of C.
Cobb Hall was then the only place where we could daily flunk,
And in the dear old Drexel "Dorm," was the only place to bunk.

(chorus)
O Chicago, O Chicago,
How great you've grown to be
Since first we case out lot with thine in eighteen ninety-three,
O Chicago, O Chicago,
How great you've grown to be
Since first we case out lot with thine in eighteen ninety-three,

(six more verses; here is Verse Five)
The base-ball and the foot-ball temas were poor when at their best,
But now they're great, defying fate as champions of the West;
To Morgan Park was quite a trip for teams when we first came,
But now we go from coast to coast and seldom lose a game.

John D. Rockefeller (by F. Frank Steigmeyer)

(3 verses plus chorus:)
John D. Rockefeller
Wonderful man is he,
Gives all his spare change to the U. of C.
He keeps the ball a rolling
In our great Varsity;
He pays Doctor Harper
To help us grow sharper,
To the glory of U. of C.

The Man Who Wears the "C" (w/perm of Blackfriars)

Here's to the man who wears the C;
Makes a good fight for the varsity;
Here's to the man who's fought and won,
Showed his true worth as Chicago's son;
Here's to the man who's brave and bold,
Ready for battle as knights of old;
Works like a tiger for victory
Oh here's to the man who wears the C.

Chicago Marching Song (by Agnes Wayman)

We are cheering for you, Chicago,
We are wearing your colors to day.
We are loyal and true, Chicago, to you,
And we're here to help you win, Chicago,
We're maroon thru and thru, Chicago,
And our hearts are with you, Chicago,
So we sing as you play, Chicago, today,
C h i c a g o -- Chicago. (second verse is boring, too)

(chorus)
So march, march, marching along
Cheer Cheer singing this song.
C h i c a g o, Chicago, Chicago, Chicago go.
Cheer, cheer hearts all in tune,
Wave, wave the old Maroon and beneath those colors fair,
Ev'ry where we'll do and dare, for Chicago, Chicago, go.

Chicago (written for dedication of Harper Memorial Library)

(first verse boring; here's verse 2)
Great soul of man in noblest form,
Of life and work in faith divine!
We honor all who gloriously attain to heights sublime.
Upon foundations others laid,
The ivied arches span the way.
They mount to scatter o'er the world
The golden sun's last ray.
Upon foundations others laid,
The ivied arches span the way.
They mount to scatter o'er the world
The golden sun's last ray.
O beauteous vision rare! O loving mem'ries there!
Our Alma Mater fair
"Chicago."

Here's a cheer for Chicago, here's a cheer.
Here's a cheer for Chicago, here's a cheer, here's a cheer.
We'll do the best we can
Stand by her like a man,
Here's a cheer for Chicago, here's a cheer.

To Chicago (by Janet Tyler Flanner)

The sun and wind and fleeting clouds our campus guard by day,
Where old Chicago's hoary walls stand firm to mark the way.
Oh, gothic vaults, long may you rear yon carven fronts erect,
And shield thro' all the years to come your students the elect!

By night the moon's pellucid gleams white like a pearl set chalice,
Transforms dear Harper's fretted tow'rs into a fairy palace.
And as we go to bed we hear like music on the water,
Old Mandel chime its benison, our lovely Alma Mater.

Chicago Loyalty Marching Song (commonly performed by the old Band. By Janet Flanner.)

[O while we're] Here give a cheer for Chicago, oh give a long hearty song for Chicago.
Let us pledge to our college our loyalty, whose rank and fame bear a name of true loyalty.
Oh let us sing for our grand Alma Mater whose fame resounds to the blue skies above.
Let us pledge wealth of days and our heartiest praise to the school that we love.

The Song of the "C" (by Donald Richberg, 1910)

When sight and sound of the campus fade in the long busy years,
Yet will return in the memory echoes of old songs and cheers;
You, of the field, track and diamond, fighters for clean victory,
You who have loved all fair, square sport, you'll hear the song of the "C":
      (the rest is boring)

Fight, fight for victory, you can hear the bleachers roar.
Fighting for ev'ry yard, piling up the score. Rah! Rah! Rah!
Fight, fight for victory, and get a way upon your toes.
We've got to win, we'll not give in. It's the way Chicago goes.

Chicago, Go! (boring, even though it mentions the Band)

For the Varsity (boring words, good music)

Chicago, We're True to You (Chicago March Song) (looks like an old band standard)

(verse is boring. chorus:)
Let's go strolling down the Midway gay,
for our campus it's the Gay White Way
All our chappies in their nifty duds
For which father loves to pay, any day.
Fair ones smile with mischief in their eye,
Laughing, chaffing as the lads go by.
boys are daft and girls are dafter,
All are after love and laughter,
Strolling down the Old Midway.

Oh, her hair is far from curly, she's no lovely little girlie, and you'll see her late and early in the librarie;
And the folks are all declaring that the hats which she is wearing are the sort they were preparing back in 1903.
It is always her endeavor to be very, very clever, and you'll find that she will never get below B plus.
She is down on silly chatter--fun to her is idle patter--and she says it doesn't matter if her hair is in a muss.

When she looks up from her learning, sees some lad and lass returning, from a stroll,
       she has a yearning for the days of yore.
Just to hang o'er Love's abysses just to dream of someone's kisses which she says she never misses,
       never thinks of more,
Though she scorns all fetes and dances, all the happy youthful glances, and the merry life's entrances
       as in days gone by.
she may seem quite antiquated--there's small chance that she'll be mated--she is knocked and never feted,
       There's no sparkle in her eye.

(chorus)
When a girl comes up to Varsity, comes to study for her Ph.D., having taught a year or two maybe,
       She has woes.
She came not to play but learn instead, still she is a girl when all is said, for she has a heart as well as head,
       Even if she hasn't any beaux.

You've Got to Study to Stay (it's about football players having to put studies first)

Beware (coed runs off with an English professor!)

Dear Old Midway (w/perm of Blackfriars. By Hansen-Klein.)

My heart belongs on the Midway, to those old haunts oft my thoughts stray.
Down where the rows of the elm trees lead to the great inland sea. (etc.)

Our on the Midway in Springtime; gay voices tell that its ring time;
Where the swift autos are speeding out on the dear old Midway. (etc.)

(chorus: boring)

The Gridiron Glide (mostly boring)

Research (by Richard Atwater) [in original spelling]

Perhaps you think it's pleasure,
In this careless campus life,
To trip a Foxtrot measure
Or engage in football strife--

(chorus)
But you are quite mistaken,
For the only life is this:
To study Lamb or Bacon
Is more nutritive, I wis!

(chorus 2)
Research, research, that is my heart's desire,
German Wochenschrifts and the midnight Mazda's fire,
Dusty treatises and dissertations dry:
     Why should I long
     for wine women and song
     When research, research, is the apple of my eye?

(verse 2)
I like to sit and ponder,
With a volume on my knee,
Of essays I am fonder
Than of shows--you disagree?

(verse 3)

Give me an ancient treatise
Or a levicogrophy,
A tome on appendicitus
Or a Greek biography.

Reprinted from The University of Chicago Song Book (1905). I believe that copyright has expired by now; please contact me if this is not the case. Mostly these are piano scores.

Chicago, to thee, let us raise apostrophe! Of our affections Queen!
May thy bright wisdom sheen of all the world be seen, forever!
Chicago, thee! Ennobled University by the broad philanthropy.
Of the Great West the pride! In wisdom's paths the guide!
Forth shed thy light, worldwide, forever!

Here's to U. of C., dring it down, drink it down;
Here's to U. of C., dring it down, drink it down;
Here's to U. of C., here is to our Varsity,
Drink it down, drink it down, down, down.

Balm of Gilead, Gilead, Balm of Gilead, Gilead,
Balm of Gilead, way down on the Bingo farm.

We won't go there any more,
We won't go there any more,
We won't go there any more,
Way down on the Bingo farm.

Bingo, Bingo, Bingo, Bingo, Bingo, Bingo,
Way down on the Bingo farm.

Oh, he said to a man named Gates, (named Gates),
"Get a swing on yourself, Mister Gates, (Mister Gates),
And go out to Chicago and see Doctor Harper,
And give him a million or two, (or three),
And give him a million or three."

(tenor) "Well," said Mister Gates, "I think I would better go.
(bass) Yes, go!
(tenor) In fact, I think I shall find it necessary to go.
(bass) Do go!
(tenor) Forsooth! I might be inconvenienced were I not to go . . .
(bass)      Go, go!
(tenor) to Chicago."

So Mister Gates swang out to Chicago
And asked Doctor Harper if he, (if he),
Could find it convenient between office hours
To accept a million or two (or three),
To accept a million or three. (Would he!)

O thou standest like a fortress, mighty College of the West,--
Like a fortress rise thy tow'ring walls on progress' outmost bound;
Not a fenced and narrow cloister for the schoolman's little quest;
Thou dost train thy sons for battle, and they know the bugle's sound;
Thou send'st them forth, with tireless swords,
Invading ev'ry unknown land,
And fighting Wrong's and Folly's hordes
Till unassailed, Truth's kingdom stand.

(two more verses)

Now as we linger in the soft twilight,
All clustered round Old Haskell Door,
We cherish here a thousand recollections
Of our fellow gone before;
And feel, and feel a deep inspiring rev'rence
As we're gathered, gathered at this hallowed shrine
Of Chicago's balls of learning,
Dear old Chicago, yours and mine.

(two more verses)

It's a Way We Have at Chicago (obviously a drinking song)

The Profs. Make Student Customs at the U. (kind of funny, not good enough to reprint)

The Team That Wears Maroon (by M., '07)

Give a cheer for our alma Mater
Till the echoes reach the skies!
As the boys come on the gridiron,
Let a loyal shout arise!
When the Varsity band starts playing
That "Go Chicago" tune,
Then we'll sing with hearts and voices
For the team that wears Maroon.

To you, Chicago men, we call
To give the Maize and Blue a fall!
Chicago grit can never lose,
Nor fate another champion choose.
Chicago men, now show your might,
Chicago men, now fiercely fight!
Stand true for old Maroon and U. of C.,
Fight, fight for old Maroon and Victory!

(one more verse)

From the 1929 book (copyright may still apply; most copyrights owned by the University of Chicago Undergraduate Council)

Our Chicago (1926)

Do you know what Maroon and C Crest mean,
To the host of the Midway you have seen?
Do you know we've a team that fights its foes,
Like men, win or lose, till the whistle blows?
Do you know that the team's not here alone?
That we'll back up our men till the game is done?
We will bend the old planks as we cheer them on:
'Tho they score or lose we're here as one.
Who are we? Who are We?

We are Chicago! We all are ready for the fray.
Cheer! Cheer! Chicago! For our old line shall not give way.
Fight! Fight! Chicago! Out team has got to win today.
Three cheers--rah! rah! rah! Chicago,
Our own Chicago.

He's a grand old Stagg tho we don't like to brag
And his worth we will prove to you soon
He's the idol of the team we love
that fight for the dear old Maroon (rah) (rah rah)
We will stick for him/Tho we lose or we win
And our faith in him can't lag
Tho other coaches be forgot
Take your hat off to grand old Stagg.

I'm strong for Chicago: C-H-I-C-A-G-O
The girls are the fairest, the men are the squarest, of any old place I know.
I'm strong for Chicago,/The place where the breezes blow
No matter the weather we'll all stick together for C-H-I-C-A-G-O.

Chicago Cheer Song; Maroon (both by Donald Richberg, and boring. Maroon mentions "marching feet.")

Alma Mater: Honored Rush (Air--"Lauriger Horatius")

(fourth verse)
Alma Mater, hail to thee! Hail! And live forever!
Rush-lights we to cast on thee, Glory fading never!
Medicorum maximae/Inclytorum vives
Alma Mater--Mater Rush: Filli nos doctores.

(chorus)
Alma Mater honored Rush,
Tender foster mother,
All the sons will cherish thee,
As we will no other.

Good Old Rush (words by Alumnus Class of 1882) (Air: "Auld Land Syne")

Should good old rush be e'er forgot,
And seldom called to mind.
The finest school of all the land,
The noblest of its kind!
It bears a patriot's stamp and name,
And patriots all are we;
And loyal to old Rush's fame,
Our hearts shall ever be.

And can we e'er forget the men,
Who are with us no more?
Whose voices linger with us still,
Whose conflicts are now o'er.
A hero's fight they fought and won,
A hero's crown they gained.
O theirs the joy but just begun,
But ours the loss and pain!

And when the last bulrush is left,
Beside a lonely pool.
And nights are dark and wolves shall bark,
And the midnight air is cool.
St. Peter then shall gather him,
To decorate his hall;
For Rush shall shine when the stars grow dim,
The last and best of all.

As the Curtain Falls; Baby Doll (selections from Blackfriars, The Machinations of Max, 1921)
(also, there are more selections from later Blackfriars productions; the most relevant ones are:)

Back to the Midway (selection from Blackfriars, Plastered in Paris, 1927)

Let us just get back some way, to spend another happy day,
Where Campus shadows fall, Our hearts would find their happiness,
And for the rest, why you can guess,
This Paris life is not for us.
Let's sail away without a fuss,
And skim the clouds and stars above,
To reach the place that we love best.

(chorus)
Back to the Midway,
And joys of college days,
Back to the Campus,
With student's carefree ways,
That's where I met you,
And I let you steal my heart,
I can't forget you,
College dreams without you would be blue,

Back to the Midway,
Where Cobb Hall stands on guard,
Back to the old gang,
And studies we thought hard.
Remember, though we're far away from home,
We can let our mem'ries roam,
Back to the joys of College, to the Midway, our home.

Doggone Freshman (selection from Blackfriars, Plastered in Paris, 1927)

When the doggone Freshman puts on the dog,
And the sweet young Co-ed,
Trots along beside,
What care they about the weather,
They're a spiffy pair together,
As she runs to keep up with his manly stride.
When the doggone Freshman puts on the dog,
He's enveloped while developing his pride,
Oskaloosa has bygoshes,
But the Midway's fair galoshes,
Follow shaggy waggy baggy coats with the doggone freshman tucked inside.

From the 1941 book (copyright probably still applies; most copyrights owned by the University of Chicago Undergraduate Council)

Join the chorus, Join the chorus, Raise the colors high,
Cheer Chicago, Cheer Chicago, Shout her battle cry,
Go! Go! Go! Chicago, Go! Go! Go! Chicago,
Join the chorus, Join the chorus, Let it shake the sky:

Stand fast! Chicago will win,
Stand fast! We'll never give in,
Hold high the flag of Maroon,
Flag of Maroon, O Flag of Maroon!
And we will fight on! Chicago will win,
Fight on! We'll never give in,
Hold high the flag of Maroon,
As high as the sun at noon.

Let's Win This Game (dedicated to Harold Bachman, Band Director)

Let's win this game, Chicago warriors go,
Never to yield a vict'ry to the foe.
On to the goal, again on ev'ry play,
Let's fight, fight, win this game, Chicago's way.

University of Chicago March (music, Karl King; lyrics, Alfred De Grazia)

Marching for Old Chicago, for her glory and fame,
From her bell towers chimes our inspiration, sing out the glory of her name.
Marching for Alma Mater.
We, her true sons, our voices raise, we who love her will never leave her--
Let us sing out Chicago's praise.