Give My Regards to Davy
Encyclopedia
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
primary fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
. The song's lyrics were written in 1905 by Charles E. Tourison 1905, W. L. Umstad 1906, and Bill Forbes 1906, a trio of roommates at Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
, and set to the tune of George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan
George Michael Cohan , known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer....
's "Give My Regards to Broadway
Give My Regards to Broadway
"Give My Regards to Broadway" is a song written by George M. Cohan for his musical play Little Johnny Jones ....
". The song refers to a fictional encounter between an anonymous student and David Fletcher "Davy" Hoy (for whom Hoy Field
Hoy Field
David F. Hoy Field, usually referred to simply as Hoy Field, is a baseball field at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where the Big Red's baseball team plays...
is named), the registrar and secretary for the committee on student conduct, and Thomas Frederick "Tee Fee" Crane
Thomas Frederick Crane
Thomas Frederick Crane was an American folklorist, academic and lawyer.He studied law at Princeton, earned his undergraduate degree in 1864, and in 1867 graduated with an A.M. After graduation, he studied law at Columbia Law School but moved to Ithaca when a relative there became ill...
, the Professor of Languages and the first Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is a division of Cornell University. It has been part of the university since its founding, although its name has changed over time. It grants bachelors degrees, and masters and doctorates through affiliation with the Cornell University Graduate School...
revolving around the student's expulsion on account of binge drinking.http://www.rso.cornell.edu/MarchingBand/davy.html David Hoy was known for his ferocity as a strict disciplinarian. Professor Crane, on the other hand, was generally well liked among students. "Piker" is a historical slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term for a freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
. "Theodore Zinck's" was a bar in downtown Ithaca that has since closed. Its legend still lives on in the weekly event for seniors "Zinck's Night", which is celebrated worldwide in October by Cornellians.http://www.alumni.cornell.edu/zincks/index.cfm
Lyrics
The original and best known lyrics:- Give my regards to Davy,
- Remember me to Tee Fee Crane.
- Tell all the pikers on the Hill
- That I'll be back again.
- Tell them just how I busted
- Lapping up the high highballHighball glassA highball glass is a glass tumbler which will contain 8 to 12 fluid ounces . It is used to serve highball cocktails and other mixed drinks.A highball glass is taller than an Old Fashioned glass, and shorter and wider than a Collins glass....
. - We'll all have drinks at Theodore Zinck's
- When I get back next fall!
Parodies
To reflect the changing diversions of students, in 1920, the Cornell Daily Sun published a new version of the song under pen name of "Lord Helpus."- Give my regards to Gladys
- Remember me to Maud and Jane
- Tell all the tea-hounds on the Hill
- That I'll be back again
- Tell them just how I busted
- Listening to the jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band's call -- - Oh! we'll all write a berry in the old Wisterie
- When I get back next fall!
Sometime in the 1950s, another unofficial version appeared, referring to President Deane Malott
Deane Waldo Malott
Deane Waldo Malott was an American academic and administrator.The son of a banker, Malott was born in Abilene, Kansas and went on to study at the University of Kansas. While at school there, he wrote for the University Daily Kansan and was a brother in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity...
's "Social Events Standards" that attempted to ban fraternity parties, to ban women from visiting men's off-campus apartments, and to maintain the strict curfews and sign-in/out times for women. This verse is only a modest form of outrage as compared to the protests that were staged (at one, students burned an effigy of Malott) and the mobs that formed (one marched to President Malott's house demanding his resignation and throwing eggs, rocks, and smoke bombs).
- Give my regards to EzraEzra CornellEzra Cornell was an American businessman and education administrator. He was a founder of Western Union and a co-founder of Cornell University...
- Remember me to Andy WhiteAndrew Dickson WhiteAndrew Dickson White was a U.S. diplomat, historian, and educator, who was the co-founder of Cornell University.-Family and personal life:...
. - Tell all the virgins on the Hill
- That I'll be back some night.
- Tell them just how I licked it,
- Lappin' up the brew at Jim's.
- We'll all take shots at Deane Malott's
- When I get back again!
On May 5, 2006, another parody of the lyrics appeared in conservative columnist Jamie Weinstein's farewell article in the Cornell Daily Sun. http://media.www.cornellsun.com/media/storage/paper866/news/2006/05/05/Opinion/Give-My.Regards.To.Ezra-1901553.shtml?sourcedomain=www.cornellsun.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com. It mocks Ithaca's strong left wing tendencies. "Rulloff's" is a popular bar and restaurant in Collegetown.
- Give my regards to Ezra
- Remember me to A.D. White.
- Tell all the hippies on the Hill
- That I'll be back some night.
- Tell them just how I did it,
- Lampooning them in The Sun
- We'll all take shots at Dean Rulloff's
- When I get back again!