Ohio state university marching band buckeye battle cry

Buckeye Battle Cry

In old Ohio (Columbus) there's a team,
That's known thru-out the land;
Eleven warriors, brave and bold,
Whose fame will ever stand,
And when the ball goes over,
Our cheers will reach the sky,
Ohio Field will hear again
The Buckeye Battle Cry.

Chorus

Drive! Drive on down the field;
Men of the scarlet and gray;
Don't let them thru that line,
We've got to win this game today,
Come on, Ohio!
Smash thru to victory,
We'll cheer you as you go;
Our honor defend
So we'll fight to the end
For Ohio.

We'll scatter to the east and west,
When college days are done;
And memories will cling around,
The dreams of everyone;
We'll play the game of living,
With head and shoulders high!
And with it wear the spirit of
The Buckeye Battle Cry!

Repeat Chorus

The second recording above is courtesy of Dave Powers. This recording is the 1924 Frank Crumit vocalization of Buckeye Battle Cry. Further information is provided below.

Except where noted, the following is from The Ohio State University Marching Band web site:

"No traditions stand more revered at in the OSUMB than two: Ramp and Script Ohio. The one thing that both have in common is Frank 'Crumit's Buckeye Battle Cry."

"Every game in Ohio Stadium begins with the OSUMB's Ramp entrance to Buckeye Battle Cry - and (almost) every Script Ohio ends with the singing of one chorus of Buckeye Battle Cry by the band, with the stadium joining in."

"Buckeye Battle Cry has a long history. It was written by Frank Crumit in 1919. Although Crumit was not an OSU student and was, in fact, a graduate of Ohio University, he had many friends in Columbus and was a Buckeye fan. When planning began for Ohio Stadium, the search for new fight songs to play in it also began. When a song contest was announced for in the spring of 1919, Crumit wrote and entered Buckeye Battle Cry. It won, and was published. By 1928, with the first ramp entrance, Buckeye Battle Cry was firmly in place as another symbol of Ohio State. In addition to being heard at the beginning of every game, TBDBITL plays it every time the Buckeye football team scores. Hopefully the band will continue to play this one many, many times at each football game!"

There is more to the story of Buckeye Battle Cry, Frank Crumit wrote the song with two verses. For some reason this verse was lost when Buckeye Battle Cry was published in various Ohio State University publications. I am pleased to provide you with the lyrics of the long lost second verse of Buckeye Battle Cry.

The second verse was released as part of the 1924 78 rpm recording (see Hi Hi Ohio) of Buckeye Battle Cry, on side A, and Hi Hi Ohio, on side B. A special thank you goes to Dave Powers of Columbus. Ohio, who not only transcribed the second verse lyrics, but also has provided me with a digital recording of the 1924 record. The recording was performed by Frank Crumit. Also, a thank you to Jim Joseph, who has better hearing than I do, for correcting the next to the last line of thesceond verse.

With special thanks to Michelle Drobik, of The Ohio State University Archives, I was able to obtain the score to Buckeye Battle Cry. Listen to the Mr. Crumit's original piano arrangement of Buckeye Battle Cry.

Photo: 1922 Ohio Stadium Dedication, Courtesy of The Ohio State University Archives

Please e-mail any comments, problems or suggestions to

Last Updated: 13 November, 2021

"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.

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[edit]

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!

Sources[edit]

• OSU Fight Songs
• Songs of Ohio State University

What is the OSU chant?

What do Buckeye fans say?

What song do they play during Script Ohio?

What did Tom Cruise say about Ohio State band?

What song does the Ohio State band play after a touchdown?

What song does Ohio State song after games?