"Boola Boola" is a football song of Yale University. It has enjoyed widespread popularity over the years and has been adapted to many other uses. Despite its popularity, it is not Yale's official fight song, which is "Bull Dog", by Cole Porter.
The song in its present form was composed in 1900 and is generally attributed to Allan M. Hirsh, Yale Class of 1901, who in a 1930 letter claimed to have written it in collaboration with his classmates F. M. Van Wicklen, Albert Marckwald, and James L. Boyce in the fall of 1900.[1] Though the claim was disputed by Marckwald – who was credited with the tune in the 1901 Class Book – and others, the weight of the evidence, including several articles in the Yale Alumni Weekly from 1900 and 1901, supports Hirsh's claim.
However, the song appears to be based on an earlier one, "La Hoola Boola" (1898), by Robert Allen "Bob" Cole and Billy Johnson, "extremely popular African American singer-songwriters of the time."[1] When the first piano edition of "Yale Boola" appeared in 1901, it included a notice "Adapted by permission of Howley, Haviland & Dresser", the successor publisher of "La Hoola Boola". Hirsh himself said in his 1930 letter:
The song was not altogether original with us, but was undoubtedly adapted from some other song but we were unable to definitively designate this song, although later on we did discover that there had been published a song, which at that time was out of print, called 'La Hula Boola,' and the air was quite similar but the time was different.
The song immediately caught on,[2] soon being played by John Philip Sousa. It sold more sheet music in the first half of 1901 than any other song in the country,[3] and became indelibly associated with Yale athletics.
Boola boola, boola boola, boola boola, boola, boola Oh when we're through with those poor fellows They will holler boola, boo Rah, rah!
Oh Yale, Eli Yale Oh Yale, Eli Yale Oh Yale, Eli Yale Oh Yale, Eli Yale
In popular culture
An accordion rendition is featured in the 1954 film Phffft, when Kim Novak's character leads patrons in a restaurant in singing the song, while she waves pom poms.
A brass-band arrangement of the "Boola Boola" tune accompanies the sequence in Peter Yates' 1969 film John and Mary in which Mary (Mia Farrow) imagines herself sitting on a bench wrapped in a blanket, watching John (Dustin Hoffman) play tennis with James (Michael Tolan) on a New York City court in the winter, both wearing Yale jerseys. Then John and James briefly sing the song in the shower while throwing wet towels onto Mary.[8]
Nancy Kelly sings a version of the song in 1943's Tarzan’s Desert Mystery as a diversion to the villains looking for Tarzan and his son Boy.
Dick Tracy comic strips from October 13, 1956-December 23, 1956, featured a counterfeiter named Ivy who would frequently utter “Boola Boola Boola”. He wore tweed suits, owned a large riding stable, and was a former polo champion.
In the Simpsons episode "The Great Wife Hope", character Mr. Burns, an alumnus of Yale, is seen playing the song as he comes up against Marge in a practice wrestling match.
^“A small band of students on the Yale side of the ring sang their college songs. “More work for the undertaker and no hope for Pennsy” was the theme of one refrain, while the stately measures of “Boola-boola” were pleasing to the auditors.” New York Times, February 3, 1901
^John and Mary (1969) Full Movie - Mia Farrow, Dustin Hoffman, YouTube
External links
Fred R. Shapiro, "," Yale Alumni Magazine, September/October 2009.
Philip Hirsh, "," Yale Alumni Magazine, October 2000.
[1] mp3 files of "La Hoola Boola" and "Boola Boola."
Yale College Fight Songs, lyrics and audio, Yale College Band
January 07, 2023
boola, boola, football, song, yale, university, enjoyed, widespread, popularity, over, years, been, adapted, many, other, uses, despite, popularity, yale, official, fight, song, which, bull, cole, porter, contents, origins, recordings, adaptations, lyrics, pop. Boola Boola is a football song of Yale University It has enjoyed widespread popularity over the years and has been adapted to many other uses Despite its popularity it is not Yale s official fight song which is Bull Dog by Cole Porter Contents 1 Origins 2 Recordings and adaptations 3 Lyrics 4 In popular culture 5 References 6 External linksOrigins EditThe song in its present form was composed in 1900 and is generally attributed to Allan M Hirsh Yale Class of 1901 who in a 1930 letter claimed to have written it in collaboration with his classmates F M Van Wicklen Albert Marckwald and James L Boyce in the fall of 1900 1 Though the claim was disputed by Marckwald who was credited with the tune in the 1901 Class Book and others the weight of the evidence including several articles in the Yale Alumni Weekly from 1900 and 1901 supports Hirsh s claim However the song appears to be based on an earlier one La Hoola Boola 1898 by Robert Allen Bob Cole and Billy Johnson extremely popular African American singer songwriters of the time 1 When the first piano edition of Yale Boola appeared in 1901 it included a notice Adapted by permission of Howley Haviland amp Dresser the successor publisher of La Hoola Boola Hirsh himself said in his 1930 letter The song was not altogether original with us but was undoubtedly adapted from some other song but we were unable to definitively designate this song although later on we did discover that there had been published a song which at that time was out of print called La Hula Boola and the air was quite similar but the time was different The song immediately caught on 2 soon being played by John Philip Sousa It sold more sheet music in the first half of 1901 than any other song in the country 3 and became indelibly associated with Yale athletics Recordings and adaptations EditArthur Pryor s Band recorded Boola Boola in 1910 4 As one of Yale s most traditional football songs Boola Boola is frequently performed by the Yale Whiffenpoofs 5 and the Yale Glee Club 6 The tune of Boola Boola is used for the University of Oklahoma s fight song Boomer Sooner 7 Lyrics EditBoola boola boola boola boola boola boola boola Oh when we re through with those poor fellows They will holler boola boo Rah rah Oh Yale Eli Yale Oh Yale Eli Yale Oh Yale Eli Yale Oh Yale Eli YaleIn popular culture EditAn accordion rendition is featured in the 1954 film Phffft when Kim Novak s character leads patrons in a restaurant in singing the song while she waves pom poms A brass band arrangement of the Boola Boola tune accompanies the sequence in Peter Yates 1969 film John and Mary in which Mary Mia Farrow imagines herself sitting on a bench wrapped in a blanket watching John Dustin Hoffman play tennis with James Michael Tolan on a New York City court in the winter both wearing Yale jerseys Then John and James briefly sing the song in the shower while throwing wet towels onto Mary 8 Nancy Kelly sings a version of the song in 1943 s Tarzan s Desert Mystery as a diversion to the villains looking for Tarzan and his son Boy Dick Tracy comic strips from October 13 1956 December 23 1956 featured a counterfeiter named Ivy who would frequently utter Boola Boola Boola He wore tweed suits owned a large riding stable and was a former polo champion In the Simpsons episode The Great Wife Hope character Mr Burns an alumnus of Yale is seen playing the song as he comes up against Marge in a practice wrestling match References Edit a b Shapiro You can quote them A small band of students on the Yale side of the ring sang their college songs More work for the undertaker and no hope for Pennsy was the theme of one refrain while the stately measures of Boola boola were pleasing to the auditors New York Times February 3 1901 Hirsh The Secret Source of that Silly Tune Arthur Pryor s Band Yale Boola March 1910 Yale University Boola Boola YouTube Yale 50th Reunion 1963 Whiffenpoofs sing Boola Boola YouTube Yale Fight Songs Medley Yale Glee Club 2009 YouTube Oklahoma s Boomer Sooner YouTube John and Mary 1969 Full Movie Mia Farrow Dustin Hoffman YouTubeExternal links EditFred R Shapiro You can quote them Yale Alumni Magazine September October 2009 Philip Hirsh The Secret Source of that Silly Tune Yale Alumni Magazine October 2000 1 mp3 files of La Hoola Boola and Boola Boola Yale College Fight Songs lyrics and audio Yale College Band Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boola Boola amp oldid 1124980431, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
