Songs of The Ohio State University |
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Jimmie Kelley
My name is Mister Kelley an' I kape the campus clean,
An iv'ry day I work away in sun or snow or rain,
In summer time I mow the grass an' dredge the scummy lake,
In winter, shovel snow and level roads with my old rake.
Chorus
O Mister Kelley, tra, la, la, la,
Poor Mister Kelley, tra, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
My name is Mr. Kelley an' I'm very proud o' the name,
I am a man of reputation, an' I do deserve my fame;
An' yit tho' I'm an osifer, an' no so very small,
The haythen byes don't riverence me at all, at all, at all.
I keep the Prep from throwin' stones into the bloomin' lakes,
In iv'ry path across the grass, I plant a hundred stakes;
An' enny time the visitor passes by may see,
My pipe, my rake, my wheel barrow, my overalls an' me.
Repeat Chorus
The nasty byes, they sasses me an' tries to make me swaer,
An' when they tear my fences down, I git right up and r'ar;
An' yit I kape a workin' while it rains an' it snows,
Yer honor, have ye got a bit o' baccry in yer clothes?
Repeat Chorus
This song was very popular among The Ohio State University student body. It was not a fight song or an Alma Mater, but a ballad about a university policemen (grounds keeper). The name of this individual was Jimmie Kelley. Mr. Kelley was very popular with the students of Ohio State in th early days of the University. So, in 1894, Joespeh Russell Taylor honored Mr. Kelley in song. Matter of fact, a photograph of Mr. Kelley was included in Songs of Ohio State University. It is assumed this song was written to celebrate Mr. Kelley's retirement, after many years of service. The song was written to the melody of Solomon Levi; you can recognize the melody as that of the University of Utah Fight Song, Utah Man.
This song was originally published in The Lantern on 28 Novemeber, 1894.
Photo: 1896 Ground Keepers, Courtesy of The Ohio State University Archives
Please e-mail any comments, problems or suggestions to nmetro@sgsosu.net
Webmaster: Nick Metrowsky
Last Updated: 2 September, 2010