Hail to Old OSU

"Hail to Old O.S.U." is the song from which the fight song for Oregon State University is based. It was written by Harold L. Wilkins in 1914 and is played mainly at sporting events like football and basketball games. The lyrics have been slightly altered since being written "to conform to a changing culture"^[1], changing to conform to new initials (O.A.C. became O.S.C., and later, O.S.U.), and unofficially some use a gender-neutral version.

The music and lyrics were copyrighted in 1914 and are now public domain.

The original lyrics (including original title, subheading, and punctuation):

Hail to Old O.A.C.

A Rooter’s Song

Words and Music by Harold A. Wilkins, ‘07

Here we come with a toast and song for the college up on the hill,
We love its shady slopes and trees, Its mem’ries cheer and thrill;
But fondest thoughts when the years have run, Will be of teams and vict’ries won, Each man a loyal son, Hail to old O.A.C.

CHORUS:
O.A.C., our hats are off to you, Beavers, Beavers, fighters thru and thru,
We’ll cheer for ev’ry man, We’ll root for ev’ry stand, that’s made for old O.A.C.
Watch our team go tearing down the field, Men of iron, their strength will never yield.
Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail to old O.A.C.

We’ll rout hard for the baseball star who can knock out a long home run,
And cheer the man who kicks the goal, That means the game is won;
But mem’ries best in our Hall of Fame, Are for the man who’s always game, Win, lose, fights just the same, All for old O.A.C.

REPEAT CHORUS^[2]

The Fight Song

Oregon State's Fight Song is a modified version of "Hail to Old O.S.U." It consists of the chorus, a chant (O-S-U Fight B-E-A-V-E-R-S) backed by drums, and a repeat of the second half of the chorus.

The current arrangement of "Hail to Old OSU" consists of the first verse, followed by the modified Fight Song.

References

External links

• MP3 of Hail to Old OSU, as performed by Oregon State University Marching Band