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"On, Wisconsin!" is the fight song of the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletic program has teams in American football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country running, tennis, swimming, collegiate wrestling, athletics , Rowing , golf, and so...
 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is also the official state song of Wisconsin
Wisconsin

Wisconsin is one of the fifty U.S. state in the United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States. It borders two of the five Great Lakes and four U.S....
.

"On, Wisconsin!" was also the cry that Arthur MacArthur, Jr.
Arthur MacArthur, Jr.

Lieutenant general Arthur MacArthur, Jr. , was a United States United States Army General officer. He became the military governor of the American-occupied Philippines in 1900 but his term ended a year later due to clashes with the civilian governor, future U.S....
 used in the Battle of Chattanooga at Missionary Ridge
Missionary Ridge

Missionary Ridge is a geographic feature in Chattanooga, Tennessee, site of the Battle of Missionary Ridge, a battle in the American Civil War, fought on November 25, 1863....
, in the Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
.

tune was composed in 1909 by William T. Purdy, with the intention of entering it into a competition for a new fight song at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public university research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, Minnesota, United States....
.

Carl Beck, a former University of Wisconsin-Madison student, convinced him to withdraw it from the contest at the last minute and allow his alma mater to use it instead.






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"On, Wisconsin!" is the fight song of the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletic program has teams in American football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country running, tennis, swimming, collegiate wrestling, athletics , Rowing , golf, and so...
 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is also the official state song of Wisconsin
Wisconsin

Wisconsin is one of the fifty U.S. state in the United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States. It borders two of the five Great Lakes and four U.S....
.

"On, Wisconsin!" was also the cry that Arthur MacArthur, Jr.
Arthur MacArthur, Jr.

Lieutenant general Arthur MacArthur, Jr. , was a United States United States Army General officer. He became the military governor of the American-occupied Philippines in 1900 but his term ended a year later due to clashes with the civilian governor, future U.S....
 used in the Battle of Chattanooga at Missionary Ridge
Missionary Ridge

Missionary Ridge is a geographic feature in Chattanooga, Tennessee, site of the Battle of Missionary Ridge, a battle in the American Civil War, fought on November 25, 1863....
, in the Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
.

History of the song

The tune was composed in 1909 by William T. Purdy, with the intention of entering it into a competition for a new fight song at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public university research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, Minnesota, United States....
.

Carl Beck, a former University of Wisconsin-Madison student, convinced him to withdraw it from the contest at the last minute and allow his alma mater to use it instead. Beck then wrote the original, football-oriented lyrics, changing the words "Minnesota, Minnesota" to "On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!" (The eventual winner of the competition became known as the Minnesota Rouser
Minnesota Rouser

The "Minnesota Rouser" is the fight song of the University of Minnesota. It is played at all Minnesota Golden Gophers games....
).

The lyrics
Lyrics

Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song, either by speaking or singing. The word 'lyric' comes from the Greek word ,lyricos, meaning "singing to the lyre"....
 were rewritten for the state song in 1913 by Judge Charles D. Rosa and J. S. Hubbard. The song was widely recognized as the state song at that time, but was never officially designated. Finally in 1959, "On, Wisconsin!" was codified in Chapter 170, Laws of 1959, and is incorporated in Section 1.10 of the statute
Statute

A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a country, state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy....
s.

"On, Wisconsin!" was regarded by John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa was an United States composer and Conducting of the late Romanticism known particularly for American march music. Because of his mastery of march composition and resultant prominence, he is known as "The March King"....
 as "the finest of college marching songs". It is featured in the Beach Boys' 1963 hit song, "Be True to Your School
Be True to Your School

"Be True to Your School" is a song by The Beach Boys. The album version of this song was recorded on Monday, September 2, 1963. It appears on Little Deuce Coupe and Endless Summer ....
." Although there are persistent rumors that the rights to the song are owned by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney Member of the Order of the British Empire is a multiple Grammy Award-winning England singer-songwriter, poet, composer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, record producer, film producer, Painting, and Animal rights....
 or Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
 (this has even been reported by the Christian Science Monitor), the song is actually in the public domain.

Battle Cry

"On, Wisconsin!" was the cry that Arthur MacArthur, Jr.
Arthur MacArthur, Jr.

Lieutenant general Arthur MacArthur, Jr. , was a United States United States Army General officer. He became the military governor of the American-occupied Philippines in 1900 but his term ended a year later due to clashes with the civilian governor, future U.S....
 used in the Battle of Chattanooga at Missionary Ridge
Missionary Ridge

Missionary Ridge is a geographic feature in Chattanooga, Tennessee, site of the Battle of Missionary Ridge, a battle in the American Civil War, fought on November 25, 1863....
, in the Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
. He seized the regimental colors, and rallied his regiment with "On, Wisconsin!", for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest Awards and decorations of the United States military awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action...
.

University of Wisconsin lyrics

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
 Plunge right through that line!
* Run the ball clear down the field,
* A touchdown sure this time. (U rah rah)
 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!


* Sometimes these lyrics are altered to say "Run the ball clear down the field, boys--touchdown sure this time!"

State song lyrics

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
 Grand old Badger State!
 We, thy loyal sons and daughters,
 Hail thee, good and great.
 On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
 Champion of the right,
 "Forward", our motto,
 God will give thee might!

Used elsewhere

  • The tune was adapted by bandleader Dal Richards
    Dal Richards

    Dal Richards, Member of the Order of Canada, Order of British Columbia is a legendary Canadian big band leader, also known as the King of Swing , a famous Vancouverite, a recipient of the Order of Canada and living legend of the Big Band Era....
     as a fight song for the Canadian Football League
    Canadian Football League

    The Canadian Football League is a professional sports league located entirely in Canada.Its eight teams, which are located in eight cities, are divided into two division of four teams each ....
    's Saskatchewan Roughriders
    Saskatchewan Roughriders

    The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, founded in 1910 in sports. They play their home games at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field....
    , appearing on the 1968 album "Canadian Football Songs." It is also widely used by high schools and other colleges.
  • One notable use as a fight song is by McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee
    Tennessee

    Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States United States. In 1796, it became the sixteenth state to join the United States....
    . The school is located on Missionary Ridge
    Missionary Ridge

    Missionary Ridge is a geographic feature in Chattanooga, Tennessee, site of the Battle of Missionary Ridge, a battle in the American Civil War, fought on November 25, 1863....
     at almost the exact site of MacArthur's charge that birthed the battle cry for which the song is named.
  • An instrumental version of the song was used in the 1973 Disney animated film Robin Hood
    Robin Hood (1973 film)

    Robin Hood is an animated film produced by the The Walt Disney Company#Studio Entertainment, first released in the United States on November 8, 1973....
    . During the fight scene where the music is played, Friar Tuck
    Friar Tuck

    Friar Tuck is a companion to Robin Hood in the legends about that character. He is a common character in modern Robin Hood stories, which depict him as a jovial friar and one of Robin's Merry Men....
     (portrayed as a badger
    Badger

    Badger is the common name for a specific group of carnivora mammals, which belong to the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters, ferrets, wolverines, and relatives....
    ) is cheering loudly.
  • A short clip (the first four bars
    Bar (music)

    In musical notation, a bar is a segment of time defined as a given number of beat of a given duration. The word measure is heard more frequently in the United States, while bar is used in other English-speaking countries, although musicians generally understand both usages....
    ) of the song can be heard in the Beach Boys 1963 hit song "Be True to Your School
    Be True to Your School

    "Be True to Your School" is a song by The Beach Boys. The album version of this song was recorded on Monday, September 2, 1963. It appears on Little Deuce Coupe and Endless Summer ....
    ," about 1:05 minutes in.
Trivial Note: The first few bars of this song are sung near the beginning of episode 72 on M*A*S*H.

External links

  • . Original sheet music maintained at and presented online as part of the .