Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

The cover of a set of sheet music from 1924

Often called the most beloved and popular of college fraternity songs, "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" was written in 1911[1] by Byron D. Stokes (Albion, Class of 1913) and F. Dudleigh Vernor (Albion, Class of 1914). Stokes had written the words while in class one June day that year, and presented them that afternoon to Vernor, who was practicing the piano in a local house, and composed the music at that time. The song has since become a favorite among ballroom orchestras and was used in two movie musicals of the same name, in 1933 and 1946. When asked about the song's inspiration, Stokes replied, "The 'Sweetheart' is the symbol for the spiritual ingredient in brotherhood. It was the Sigma Chi Fraternity itself that inspired the song. I wrote the words not long after my initiation, and the magic of our Ritual with its poetic overtones and undertones was, I suppose, the source of my inspiration". The original musical composition remained on campus until 2007 when it was lost and not recovered.

The song was first sung by Harry Cliford (Albion '11), who later drew the cover for the original sheet music published by Vernor's brother Harry Vernor (Albion '13). The song became a big band hit, has been performed in film and television, and continues to be recognized around the world. Through the years many people have tried to pin the title of "original sweetheart" on many women, however the two most likely candidates are Elsie Munro (Vernor's girlfriend) and Helen Beall Russell, who lived next to the old chapter house. Either way since then the concept of the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi has gained popularity all across the world with the adoption of sweethearts at every chapter and even an international sweetheart. [2]

Performers

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Lyrics

The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi Words by Byron D. Stokes, Albion 1913

When the world goes wrong, as it's bound to do

And you've broken Dan Cupid's bow

And you long for the girl you used to love

the maid of the long ago


Why light your pipe, bid sorrow avaunt,

Blow the smoke from your alter of dreams

And wreathe the face of your dream-girl there

The love that is just what it seems.


The girl of my dreams is the sweetest girl

Of all the girls I know

Each sweet co-ed, like a rainbow trail

Fades in the after glow


The blue of her eyes and the gold of her hair

Are a blend of the western sky


And the moonlight beams

On the girl of my dreams

She's the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi.


The girls of my dreams is the sweetest girl

Of all the girls I know

Our sweet romance

Like a timeless dance

Dwells in my heart and soul


The love in her eyes and the warmth of her smile

Endure as the years go by

And the moon still beams

On the girl of my dreams

Like a bright shining star in the sky

My sweetheart of Sigma Chi.

Movies

Television

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

References

External links