Buckeye Battle Cry

"Buckeye Battle Cry", composed by vaudeville performer and songwriter Frank Crumit, is one of two fight songs of the Ohio State Buckeyes, with the other being "(Fight The Team) Across the Field". Every football game in Ohio Stadium begins with Ramp entrance by The Ohio State University Marching Band, performed to "Buckeye Battle Cry". The tradition of Script Ohio ends with the singing of one chorus of the fight song by band members. The song is also played after every Buckeye score.

The Ohio State University Marching Band

Planning for the construction of Ohio Stadium resulted in a contest in 1919 to create new school fight songs. Frank Crumit, an alumnus of Ohio University but a Buckeye fan, wrote "Buckeye Battle Cry" and submitted it to the contest.

Some older versions of the lyrics show not COME ON OHIO!, but rather O-HI-O. While some fans sing O-HI-O (complete with arm motions), the former is more less common. The Ohio State University Marching Band sings "Come On Ohio" in their rendition. The Marching Band ramp entrance consists of the verse, followed by two repetitions of the chorus.

Lyrics

In old Ohio there's a team
That's known throughout the land
Eleven warriors brave and bold
Whose fame will ever stand

And when that ball goes over,
Our cheers will reach the sky
Ohio Field will hear again
The Buckeye Battle Cry!

Chorus:

Drive, drive on down that field
Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Don't let them through that line
We've got to win this game today

COME ON OHIO!

Smash through to victory
We cheer you as we go
Our honor defend
We will fight to the end

For O-HI-O!

Music

{ \language "english" \new Voice \relative c'' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"brass section" \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo "Tempo = 180" \tempo 4 = 180 \clef treble \key bf \major \time 2/4 ^"INTRO" bf8->\ff a4-> bf8-> df4-- c8 bf8 d8-> df4-> d8-> f4-> g4-> d2 c2 bf2~bf8 r8 f4-- \bar "||" \break ^"VERSE" \time 4/4 d'4. cs8 d4 bf4 c4. b8 c4 a4 bf4. c8 d4 bf4 f2. f4-- d'4. cs8 d4 bf4 c4. b8 c4 d4 e4 d4 b4 g4 c2. f,4-- \break ef'4. d8 ef4 f4 ef4~d2 bf4 g4 a4 bf4 c4 d2. d4 e4. ef8 e4 c4 d4 a4 c4 a8 bf8 c4 g4 d'4 cs4 \bar "||" \break \time 2/4 c8-. f16-> f16-> f8-> f8-> f8-> f8-> e8-> ef8-> ^"CHORUS" \repeat volta 2 {d2 cs4 d4 bf8 g8 f4~f2 bf4 bf8. bf16 c8 bf4 c8 \break ef2~ef2 ef2 d4 ef4 c8 a8 f4~f8 a8 g8 fs8 f4 c'4 \break b4 c4 d8-. r8 f4-> f4-> f4-> d2 cs4 d4 bf8 g8 f4~f4 f4-> \break bf4 d4 c4 bf4 ef2~ef8 r8 g,8-> a8-> bf8-> a4-> bf8-> df4-- c8 bf8 d8-> cs4-> d8-> \break f4-> g4-> d2 c2} \alternative { { c8-. f16-> f16-> f8-> f8-> f8-> f8-> e8-> ef8-> } { bf2~bf8 r8 r4 \bar "|." } } } \addlyrics { _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ In old O -- hi -- o there's a team That's known through -- out the land E -- le -- ven war -- riors brave and bold Whose fame will e -- ver stand And when that ball goes over, Our cheers will reach the sky O -- hi -- o Field will hear a -- gain The _ Buck -- eye Bat -- tle Cry! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Drive, drive on down that field Men of the Scar -- let and Gray Don't let them through that line We've got to win this game to -- day COME ON OHIO! Smash through to vic -- tor -- y We cheer you as we go Our _ ho -- nor de -- fend We will fight to the end For O -- HI -- O! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O!} }

Sources