Buckeye Battle Cry

"Buckeye Battle Cry", composed by vaudeville performer and songwriter Frank Crumit, is one of two fight songs of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Every football game in Ohio Stadium begins with Ramp entrance by The Ohio State University Marching Band, performed to "Buckeye Battle Cry". The tradition of Script Ohio ends with the singing of one chorus of the fight song by band members. The song is also played after every Buckeye score.

Planning for the construction of Ohio Stadium resulted in a contest in 1919 to create new school fight songs. Frank Crumit, an alumnus of Ohio University but a Buckeye fan, wrote "Buckeye Battle Cry" and submitted it to the contest.

It should be noted that some older versions of the lyrics show not "COME ON OHIO!", but rather "O-HI-O". While some fans opt to sing the latter (complete with arm motions), the former is much more common.

Lyrics

:"In old Ohio there's a team :"That's known throughout the land :"Eleven warriors brave and bold :"Whose fame will ever stand :"And when the ball goes over, :"Our cheers will reach the sky :"Ohio Field will hear again :"The Buckeye Battle Cry!Chorus: :"Drive, drive on down the field :"Men of the Scarlet and Gray :"Don't let them through that line :"We've got to win this game today :"COME ON OHIO! :"Smash through to victory :"We cheer you as you go :"Our honor defend :"So we'll (We will) fight to the end :"For O-HI-O!

econd Verse

Crumit penned a second verse which was apparently lost until Nick Metrowsky (site linked below, Free content) recovered it from a 1924 recording:

:"We'll scatter to the east and west:"When college days are done,:"And memories will cling around:"The dreams of everyone;:"We'll play the game of living,:"With head and shoulders high!:"And where in wear the spirit of:"The Buckeye Battle Cry!"

:(Repeat Chorus)

ources

* [http://users.frii.com/~nmetro/osu/osu_songs.html Songs of the Ohio State University]
* [http://www.trademark-licensing.ohio-state.edu/traditions/index.htm The Ohio State University: Band Traditions]