Oh, we came here in the autumn of eighteen ninety-three;
A half a dozen buildings, had then the U of C.
Cobb Hall was then the only place where we could daily flunk,
And in the dear old Drexel “Dorm.,” was the only place to bunk.

CHORUS

O Chicago, O Chicago,
How great youʼve grown to be
Since first we cast our lot with thine in eighteen ninety-three.

Oh, there were more profs than students, but then we didnʼt care;
They spent their days in research work, their evenings at the Fair;
And life upon the campus was one continual swing;
We watched the Ferris wheel go ʼround and we didnʼt do a thing.

REPEAT CHORUS

Oh, the commons started up that year, this was their bill of fare:
Sauce with mold, weak coffee cold, and a hunk of grizzly bear;
And the man who caught the most roaches, at breakfast or at tea,
Was deemed the hero of the hour, thereafter wore a “C.”

REPEAT CHORUS

Oh, the girls were mostly twenty-eight, and after Ph.Ds.
They took four hours in those old days; there were no extra fees;
And all the men were mostly married, which proved a great hoo-doo
To all society events; what could the poor girls do?

REPEAT CHORUS

The baseball and the football teams were poor when at their best,
But now theyʼre great, defying fate as champions of the West;
To Morgan Park was quite a trip for teams when we first came,
But now we go from coast to coast and seldom lose a game.

REPEAT CHORUS

Then Stagg was catcher, pitcher, coach, shortstop, and halfback, too,
For in those days of “auld lang syne” our athletes were few;
But now three men with brawn and brain are trying for each place,
And these three persons with A. Stagg, decide the pennant race.

REPEAT CHORUS

Oh, the Glee Club took a trip that year, they made it in a day;
The second stop was Downerʼs Grove, the first was Aurora;
But now we feast and dance and sing; through distance fast weʼre whirled,
And when the Glee Clubʼs air shipʼs done, weʼll tour around the world.

REPEAT CHORUS

Read more about Songs of the University of Chicago in “A Surprise Package from 1950.”