The Good Old Song - University Traditions

When discussing the University's many unique traditions, "The Good Old Song" stands out not only as one of its most iconic, but easily the most enjoyable to participate in. As the University's unofficial fight song, it is committed to memory and celebrated by First Year and tenured faculty alike.

While most often sung following touchdowns or as A Capella concert finales, I've joined in on the singing of "The Good Old Song" in all manner of UVA student get-togethers, from Convocation, LOTL, and Final Exercises, to tailgates and pregames, and even a drunken New Year's Eve in Morocco in a chance encounter with a fellow 'Hoo. So put your arm around your neighbor, sway side-to-side, and read on.

1. The Lyrics

2. Putting the Wahoo in "Wahoowa"

3. The Second Verse

4. Keeping The Good Old Song "Good"

5. Other UVA Fight Songs

Honor Committee Representatives singing "The Good Old Song" at 2018 Fall Convocation

The Lyrics (to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne")

1 That good old song of Wah-hoo-wah—we'll sing it o'er and o'er,

It cheers our hearts and warms our blood to hear them shout and roar,

We come from old Virginia, where all is bright and gay,

Let's all join hands and give a yell for the dear old UVA.

c Wah-hoo-wah, wah-hoo-wah! Uni-v, Virginia!

Hoo-rah-ray, hoo-rah-ray, ray, ray—UVA!

2 What though the tide of years may roll, and drift us far apart,

For alma mater still there'll be a place in every heart.

In college days we sing her praise, and so, when far away,

In memory we still shall be at the dear old UVA.

Putting the "Wahoo" in "Wahoowa"

While UVA's many successful men's and women's sports teams are officially known as "The Virginia Cavaliers," its fans prefer the title of "Wahoos" (or "'Hoos" for short), deriving from the chant of "wah-hoo-wah" associated with, yet predating, "The Good Old Song's" chorus.

But what exactly is a Wahoo? The legend goes the nickname was given to UVA's student section at a rivalry baseball game against Washington and Lee in the 1890's. Washington and Lee fans dubbed them "a bunch of rowdy wahoos" for their jeers and chants throughout the game. The "wah-hoo-wah" chant traces its origins back to Dartmouth College in 1878 by student Daniel Rollins as a fictitious Indian yell, and saw similar popularity at the University of Illinois and other college campuses of the late 1800's, as such collegiate traditions were known to travel.

We know it reached UVA by 1888 after being printed in the University's annual publication, Corks & Curls, and again in 1894 after being referenced in an original song by performer Nathalie Floyd Otley at the Levy Opera House in Charlottesville, to great popularity amongst the student body. Though Dartmouth has since dropped the references to Native Americans in their branding, mascots, and symbols, the "wah-hoo-wah" chant lives on, its original intent lost in recent memories, but an ingrained part of UVA culture nonetheless.

Historical legends aside, another popular take will tell you "the wahoo is a fish that can drink twice its weight." Make of that what you will. As a more recent evolution of the nickname, "Good Times, Go 'Hoos" is a common adage at the university, to be used in moments of great triumph, mediocre accomplishment, or ironic travesty, a fit for all occasions. No matter what, you can always count on the 'Hoos and the good times that follow them.

The Second Verse

Should you experience a rousing rendition of "The Good Old Song" in person, you might notice it generally ends following the middle chorus and devolves into your typical pep band fanfare of "U-V-A, GO-'HOOS-GO!" and so on. In the last six years, I've never once heard the second verse sung in public, not at sports games or concerts, or in any formal or informal context (the singular exception at the bottom of the page). Few students even seem aware the song continues after the chorus, and I only stumbled upon the forgotten second verse by accident on the Virginia Glee Club Wiki.

As an undergraduate Alumnus and now graduate student of the university, that second verse hits a little differently than before. I've shamelessly used snippets as Instagram captions throughout my Fourth Year and committed it to memory. Like "The Honor Men" Poem, which I'll cover later in the University Traditions series, the second verse wasn't written for current undergraduates, but rather in reflection of times gone by.

I have friends from "the dear old UVA" across the country and world, each thriving in their own way. Due to the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic, I only attended one Homecomings Weekend which brought many of us together again. While everyone takes away different lessons from their undergraduate experience, both good and bad, I'll always hold dearly the memories made and the people I met along the way, and the second verse encapsulates those emotions succinctly. If those four lines don't make you choke up a bit with nostalgia, I'm not sure what will.

While I can't see it ever gaining popularity at sports games due to its alumnus focus, and given the already high note the chorus ends on, I hope to raise awareness of its existence for others to appreciate like I do.

Keeping The Good Old Song "Good"

Native American war cry appropriation already mentioned, "The Good Old Song" is not free from further controversy; Around the 1970's, it became custom for students to shout "Not gay!" following the third verse "-where all is bright and gay!" Not only does this addition go against the original intent of the lyric (gay meaning "jovial or happy," not a person's sexual orientation), but was a blatant example of unnecessary homophobia that might have been accepted by prejudicial, insecure college students at the time as a joke, but was harmful and discriminatory against their LGBTQ+ peers.

This led to the 2001 petitions and protests by students and faculty to "Keep The Good Old Song 'Good'" and I'm proud to say I have not once heard the "Not gay!" shout used at sporting events since first arriving at the university in 2015. This does not mean it hasn't stayed alive in the memories of alumni un-reached by the campaign, but the practice is no longer passed down through oral tradition, and to this day, remains actively fought against and discussed, most recently in a video released in 2019.

Despite this success, in lieu of the former "Not gay!" jeer, some students now shout "F**k Tech!" in it's stead, referencing UVA's rivalry with The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA. While no longer homophobic, you can say the students took attacks against peers and directed it towards a "common enemy," however this too goes against the family-friendly environment administration hopes to foster at public events, attended by families and unaffiliated members of the Charlottesville community. For this reason, this alternate replacement is discouraged by the University and I would not mourn its loss if phased out over time as well.

Other UVA Fight Songs

"The Good Old Song" - The only recording of the second verse I've found

"The Cavalier Song" - The Official Fight Song of the University of Virginia

1 Come and sing dear old Virginia's name, And make the Blue Ridge roar; For the world yields honor to her name Who knew her deeds of yore.

2 Then make each heart a flowing bowl, And pour our pledges strong, As down the ages still we roll; Virginia's triumph song.

3 Once more our might has won the fight; We gain the victor's due. And all men raise their voice to praise The orange and blue.

4 So, through the years, like Cavaliers, We'll shout Virginia's name! It e'er shall be on land and sea A sign of might and fame.

"Virginia Hail, All Hail" - The Official Alma Mater Song of the University of Virginia

1 Ten thousand voices sing thy acclaim; Ten thousand hearts beat high at thy name; All unafraid and girded with good, Mother of men a queen thou hast stood; Children of thine a true brotherhood, Virginia, Hail, All Hail! Virginia, Hail, All Hail!

2 Long let thy praises live and resound; Long let thy virtues in us abound; Let morning radiance set thee in sight; Let noonday brilliance crown thee with light; Let ev’ning sun sink kissing goodnight, Virginia, Hail, All Hail! Virginia, Hail, All Hail!