Songs of The Ohio State University |
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The Letter
They sing it in the Army with their Benny Havens O,
They have their mouths wide open and they stand up in a row.
They sing it in the Army but the Army doesn't know
How it makes a better music when the O's in Ohio.
Oh it makes a better music when the O's in Ohio,
Oh it makes a better music when the O's in Ohio,
When the O's in Ohio, the O's in Ohio,
It makes a better music when the O's in Ohio,
So we'll sing it in Ohio with the right Ohio O,
And we'll leave to all good fellows if the others have a show.
We'll sing it in Ohio, and till all the world shall know
How it makes a merrier music when the O's in Ohio.
Oh it makes a merrier music when the O's in Ohio,
Oh it makes a merrier music when the O's in Ohio,
When the O's in Ohio, the O's in Ohio,
It's music, oh it's music, when the O's in Ohio,
The Letter, though published in 1923, could have been around much longer than the publication date. This song book mentions that The Letter was sung by "The Girl's Glee Club"; the only reference that the women of Ohio State also had a Glee Club. As there is much more known about Ohio State's Men's Glee Club, very little is known about the "The Girl's Glee Club". Today, the Ohio State's Glee Club consists of both men and women, who perform as a single group or as seperate groups, depending on the concert. As for the song, it does make fun at the US Military Academy (West Point) and it is an example of adapting new lyrics to a familiar melody.
Photo: 1925 William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library, Courtesy of The Ohio State University Archives
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Last Updated: 16 March, 2010