On, Wisconsin!

"On, Wisconsin!" is the fight song of the Wisconsin Badgers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. A version with modified lyrics is the official state song of Wisconsin.

"On, Wisconsin!" was also the cry that Arthur MacArthur Jr. used in the Battle of Chattanooga at Missionary Ridge, in the Civil War.

History

The tune was composed in 1909 by William T. Purdy as "Minnesota, Minnesota," with the intention of entering it into a competition for a new fight song at the University of Minnesota.

Carl Beck, a former Wisconsin student, convinced him to withdraw it from the contest at the last minute and allow his alma mater to use it instead. Beck then wrote the original, football-oriented lyrics, changing the words "Minnesota, Minnesota" to "On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!" (The eventual winner of the competition became known as the Minnesota Rouser.)

The lyrics were rewritten for the state song in 1913 by Judge Charles D. Rosa and J. S. Hubbard. The song was widely recognized as the state song at that time but was never officially designated. Finally in 1959, "On, Wisconsin!" was codified in Chapter 170, Laws of 1959, and is incorporated in Section 1.10 of the statutes.

"On, Wisconsin!" was regarded by John Philip Sousa as "the finest of college marching songs". It has become one of the most popular fight songs in the country, with some 2,500 schools using some variation of it as their school song. There have been persistent rumors that the rights to the song are owned by Paul McCartney or Michael Jackson. The song is actually in the public domain in the United States.Jenny Price.
Fight on for Her Fame
. ''On Wisconsin'', Winter 2009. The international rights are unclear.

Lyrics

Modified lyrics for the state song:

Battle cry

"On, Wisconsin!" was the cry that Arthur MacArthur Jr. used in the Battle of Chattanooga at Missionary Ridge during the American Civil War. He seized the regimental colors, and rallied his regiment with "On, Wisconsin!", for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Ownership

In the early 1980s, subsequent to the purchase of Edwin H. Morris & Company, lawyers working for Paul McCartney attempted to claim copyrights for several well known songs, including ''On, Wisconsin!'' The entire catalogue was later sold to Michael Jackson. When the copyright claim was initially made, public outcry demanded that the copyright be deeded over to the State of Wisconsin as the copyright holders were demanding royalties for performance. The matter was resolved quietly; however, rumors persist that McCartney or Jackson's estate holds the claim. The song remains in the public domain.Albin Krebs and Robert McG. Thomas Jr.
NOTES ON PEOPLE; McCartney Keeping Rights to Wisconsin's State Song
. ''New York Times'', February 20, 1981.

See also

*"Varsity" – the alma mater of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
*"Be True to Your School"

References

External links

MP3 file of "On, Wisconsin!" played by the University of Wisconsin Marching Band
- original sheet music at UW Mills Music Library's Wisconsin Sheet Music Database
One Hundred Years of "On, Wisconsin!"
(from the UW-Madison Libraries system)

from the Telegraph Herald, article by Meg Jones, Associated Press, November 15, 2009
Celebrating 100 years of ‘On, Wisconsin!’
by Gwen Evans, University of Wisconsin News, October 14, 2009
The Liberation of "On Wisconsin"
by Elmer F. Cox, January 1, 1981
"On Wisconsin" copyright explained
(letter to the editor), Elmer F. Cox, Wisconsin State Journal, p. 9, February 12, 1994

{{Authority control

1909 songs
Wisconsin
American college songs
Wisconsin culture
Big Ten Conference fight songs
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Music of Wisconsin
Songs about Wisconsin