"Indiana, Our Indiana" is the official school

fight song A fight song is a rousing short song associated with a sports team. The term is most common in the United States and Canada. In Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand, these songs are called the team anthem, team song, or games song. First associated ...

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...

. The lyrics were written by IU band director, Russell P. Harker, to the tune of the trio from "The Viking March" by

Karl King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – March 31, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of " Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". Early life Karl Lawrence King was born in the village of Painte ...

, conductor of the Barnum and Bailey Circus Band. One notable difference between the trio from "The Viking March" and the fight song as played by the Marching Hundred is that in the original Viking March, the third phrase of the trio ends in a tonic chord, whereas the third phrase of "Indiana, Our Indiana" ends in a major mediant chord. Some rival bands, such as the Ohio State University Marching Band, frequently overlook this detail when performing Indiana, Our Indiana. The song was first performed by the IU Band during a football game against

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

in November 1912.

Lyrics

References

{{Big Ten fight songs Big Ten Conference fight songs Indiana University