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rivalry between the
Universities of Michigan and Minnesota. In November 1923, Minnesota fans paraded through the streets of Ann Arbor "crying at the top of their voices their new battle cry of 'We don't give a d-mn for the whole state of Michigan for today the Gophers will show it some new things in
185:
Singing of "We Don't Give a Damn" often occurs spontaneously among groups of people – generally alumnae or supporters of the Ohio State
University – wishing to express hostility towards Michigan including "at any point during a sporting event, at any bar on campus, or really at any
28:. Its simple lyrics, written in the first person plural, repeatedly express the indifference of its performers to the entirety of the state of Michigan and declare their place of origin to be some other location. The earliest known usage of the song was in the 1890s by alumni of
77:
football." In
November 1925, Minnesota fans sang the song in preparation for the annual rivalry game, using the lyrics: "We don't give a For the whole State of Michigan The whole State of Michigan The whole State of Michigan."
107:, 'We Don't Give a D--m for the Whole State of Michigan'" as it marched onto the field. The song was credited with inspiring Ohio Wesleyan to upset the Wolverines, 17 to 7. According to another account, Ohio Wesleyan coach
118:. Some sources incorrectly assert that the lyrics were written in the 1920s when an inebriated supporter of the Ohio State football team began spontaneously vocalizing it in a hotel in
54:
In 1896, a group of
Cornell alumni gathered in Chicago and sang a song with the following lyrics: "We don't give a ---- For the whole State of Michigan; We're from Illinois."
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by running onto the field and singing: "We don't give a rap for the whole State of Mich-i-gan, whole state of
Michigan, whole state of Michigan, we're from Illinois."
32:. It has also been used in a variety of contexts by baseball and football fans from Chicago, Minnesota, Ohio, North Carolina, and Tennessee (primarily during the
73:
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122:, as an organic expression of hostility towards Michigan, and was joined in chorus by several other intoxicated individuals. A 1933 article in the
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The
Greatest College Football Rivalries of All Time: The Civil War, the Iron Bowl, and Other Memorable Matchups
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151:. The song is performed in the play by supporters of the fictitious Midwestern University in advance of their
325:"Ohio Wesleyan Surprises Michigan and Wins Opener, 17 to 7: Battling Bishops Outplay Yostmen Throughout Game"
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406:
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174:). The new relevant lyrics become "We don't give a damn 'bout Duke University, 'cause we're from Carolina".
111:, a Michigan State alumnus, led his team in singing the song in the locker room before the 1928 game began.
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reports that the song was, at that time, a "familiar" one at Ohio State fraternities and sororities.
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reported that the singing of "We don't give a damn for the whole state of
Michigan" to the tune of "
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497:"17 Ohio State traditions that (probably) won't get anyone fired ... and the stories behind them"
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The song dates back at least to the 1890s and was used in multiple variations and contexts.
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The song appears to have been popularized as a college football song in the context of the
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90:" had become common practice at football games among "gay collegians of other states."
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is a song long associated with opponents of sports teams from the
American state of
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The 100-Yard War: Inside the 100-Year-Old
Michigan-Ohio State Football Rivalry
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The song is set to the melody of the
American folk song "The Old Gray Mare".
25:
39:"We Don't Give a Damn" is set to the melody of the American folk song "
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and Michigan, the Ohio Wesleyan band played "that old familiar
432:"Ohio State-Michigan Contest Holds Interest of Grid World"
252:"Minnesota Eleven Favored to Beat Wolverines at Ann Arbor"
22:"We Don't Give a Damn for the Whole State of Michigan"
228:"Chicago Cubs Win the Championship in Easy Fashion"
114:More recently, the song became associated with the
99:reported that, during a football game between
147:, and subsequently turned into a in the 1942
8:
260:. November 24, 1923. p. 10 – via
284:. November 17, 1925. p. 2 – via
236:. October 13, 1907. p. 11 – via
357:. October 9, 1928. p. 14 – via
308:. December 4, 1926. p. 4 – via
212:. February 2, 1896. p. 3 – via
468:The Ohio State Buckeyes Fans' Bucket List
65:celebrated their team's victory over the
131:The song was performed in the 1940 play
529:The Male Animal: A Comedy in Three Acts
460:
458:
276:"Gophers O.K.: Doc Didn't Say Anything"
195:
162:The lyrics are changed by fans of the
545:Kline, Benjamin (November 21, 1997).
186:establishment in the state of Ohio".
7:
116:Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry
547:"Wolverines Show Teeth Before Game"
14:
430:Harley, Bob (October 17, 1933).
166:to reflect its rivalry with the
323:W. W. Edgar (October 7, 1928).
281:The Minneapolis Morning Tribune
149:motion picture of the same name
333:. pp. 18, 22 – via
1:
204:"Sing the Songs of Cornell"
606:
349:"It's Singing Bishops Now"
407:Rowman & Littlefield
300:"The Green Inauguration"
164:North Carolina Tar Heels
401:Gitlin, Martin (2014).
372:Emmanuel, Greg (2010).
233:St. Louis Post-Dispatch
157:University of Michigan
80:In December 1926, the
580:Ohio State University
465:Meisel, Zack (2015).
378:John Wiley & Sons
305:Lansing State Journal
209:Chicago Daily Tribune
172:Carolina-Duke rivalry
137:Ohio State University
93:In October 1928, the
83:Lansing State Journal
437:Akron Beacon Journal
257:Minnesota Daily Star
155:contest against the
125:Akron Beacon Journal
585:American folk songs
533:Samuel French, Inc.
354:The Mansfield News
330:Detroit Free Press
96:Detroit Free Press
30:Cornell University
16:American folk song
552:Dayton Daily News
505:. August 27, 2014
502:Columbus Dispatch
153:American football
88:The Old Gray Mare
59:1907 World Series
41:The Old Gray Mare
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120:Columbus, Ohio
67:Detroit Tigers
61:, fans of the
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590:Fight songs
181:Performance
57:During the
574:Categories
190:References
558:April 25,
509:April 25,
443:April 25,
527:(1941).
26:Michigan
139:alumni
47:History
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170:(see
560:2018
511:2018
477:ISBN
445:2018
411:ISBN
382:ISBN
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