Go! You Packers Go!

In 1930, Eric Karll (sometimes written as Erich), a well-known songwriter and commercial jingle writer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, wrote the words of a fight song for the Green Bay Packers, an American football team in the NFL.{{Cite web | url = https://www.packers.com/history/ | title = Packers History | website = Packers.com | access-date = March 26, 2025 | archive-date = June 4, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220604120736/https://www.packers.com/history/ | url-status = live }} Karll, who was raised in Iowa, was a strong supporter and fan of the Packers.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-fight-song-special-for/168755105/ | title = Fight Song Special for Local Fan | last = Dums | first = Linda | date = December 18, 2004 | access-date = March 24, 2025 | newspaper = The Post-Crescent | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = B-1 }} He would go on to write another well-known song, “Welcome Mr. Roosevelt”, which was used on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s campaign trail. Karll copyrighted the words to the song the same year he wrote them and began working with local musicians to compose sheet music for it. One day, he showed up at studios of WHBY, a local radio station in the Green Bay-area and with Billy Burt, who was well-known in the Green Bay theater and radio scene, composed the music. The song was first performed live in 1931 by the Lumberjack Band, which at the time was a volunteer group who would play during Packer games.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-burke/129919446/ | title = Wilner Burke dead at 77; led Packers band 44 years: Part 1 | last = Goldschmidt | first = Keith | date = June 15, 1985 | access-date = September 19, 2023 | newspaper = Green Bay Press-Gazette | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = A-1 | archive-date = September 13, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230913041144/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-burke/129919446/ | url-status = live }}{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-burke/129919476/ | title = Wilner Burke dead at 77; led Packers band 44 years: Part 2 | last = Goldschmidt | first = Keith | date = June 15, 1985 | access-date = September 19, 2023 | newspaper = Green Bay Press-Gazette | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = A-2 | archive-date = September 13, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230913040858/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-burke/129919476/ | url-status = live }} When the Packers took control of the Band in 1939, the music was reworked to better match the instruments and performers in the Band.{{Cite web | url = https://antigotimes.com/stories/the-lumberjack-band-go-you-packers-go,255911 | newspaper = Antigo Times | title = The Lumberjack Band: 'Go! You Packers Go!' | last = Leohardt | first = Kris | date = March 2, 2025 | access-date = March 26, 2025 }} In 1941, Karll sued a publishing company for copyright infringement after they published the chorus of the song, although the case was dismissed after the judge declared that the dedication of the song to the Packers implied an understanding that it could be used under fair use.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-pgjuly-7-1941/57264055/ | title = Packer Song Author Was Not Damaged by Publication, Duffy | date = July 7, 1941 | access-date = March 27, 2025 | newspaper = Green Bay Press-Gazette | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 13}}

In 1953, the Packers purchased the rights to the song and began selling souvenir sheet music to fans.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-packer-song-shee/168882400/ | title = Packer Song Sheet Music on Sale First Time in 25 Years | date = September 4, 1953 | access-date = March 26, 2025 | newspaper = Green Bay Press-Gazette | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 13}} Packers historian Lee Remmel noted in a column in 2005 that Lawrence Welk, known as the "Music Man", owned the rights to the first recording of the song and was a paid a royalty every time it was played.{{Cite web | url = http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2005/01/27/1/ | title = Packers Past with Lee Remmel | last = Remmel | first = Lee | author-link = Lee Remmel | website = Packers.com | date = January 27, 2005 | access-date = March 26, 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051018090804/http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2005/01/27/1/ | archive-date = October 18, 2005 | url-status = dead }} According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the Lumberjack Band obtained the rights to the song and assigned them to the Bibo Publishing Company. Band leader Wilner Burke let the copyright lapse in 1959, claiming he never received a notice from the government copyright office offering a renewal. Welk's organization bought out the publishing company and obtained the rights to the song recording, receiving a small royalty every time it was played. The Press-Gazette noted that the song lyrics would enter into the public domain in 1970.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-packers-fight-so/168975071/ | title = Packer Band Puts $$$ in Welk's Pocket | last = Rudolph | first = Jack | date = December 1, 1968 | access-date = March 27, 2025 | newspaper = Green Bay Press-Gazette | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = C-6}} In 1960, the NFL Marching Band recorded the song as part of the NFL Marching Songs album (issued on the RCA label), which included an intro by Bart Starr.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/greeley-daily-tribune-pro-grid-record/168897766/ | title = Pro Grid Record | agency = Associated Press | date = October 15, 1960 | access-date = March 26, 2025 | newspaper = Greeley Daily Tribune | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 4}} Remmel also noted that the version played during Packers games at the time had been recorded in 1992. It has been released by different artists multiple times, including in 2011 and 2016.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/kenosha-news-packers-fight-song-updated/168754802/ | title = Packers' Fight Song Updated | agency = Associated Press | date = January 27, 2011 | access-date = March 24, 2025 | newspaper = Kenosha News | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = C-5 }}{{Cite news | url = https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/01/12/packers-1931-fight-song-gets-new-version/78678300/ | newspaper = Green Bay Press-Gazette | title = Packers 1931 fight song gets new version | access-date = March 25, 2025 | date = January 12, 2016 | last = Meinert | first = Kendra}} The song's original lyrics included the line "On, you Blue and Gold, to glory," which reflected the original colors of the Packers, which are now green and gold.{{Cite web | url = https://thepowersweep.com/blog/green-bay-packers-fight-theme-song-go-you-packers-go | website = The PowerSweep.com | date = April 23, 2018 | access-date = March 26, 2025 | title = Green Bay 101: Do the Packers Have a Fight Song? | last = Zilavy | first = Gary }}

A separate song by a rock band called The Wizenhiemers with a similar title, "Go You Packers Go", was released in 1996 but does not share the same lyrics.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-rockin-the-packers-p/168754979/ | title = Rockin' the Packers: Part 1 | last = Kassulke | first = Natasha | agency = The Capital Times | date = November 28, 1996 | access-date = March 24, 2025 | newspaper = The Capital Times | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 3}}{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-rockin-the-packers-p/168755011/ | title = Rockin' the Packers: Part 2 | last = Kassulke | first = Natasha | agency = The Capital Times | date = November 28, 1996 | access-date = March 24, 2025 | newspaper = The Capital Times | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 18}}

“Go! You Packers Go!” was one of the earliest fight songs for an American football team.{{Cite web | url = https://www.wmtv15news.com/content/sports/Packers-fight-song--559299351.html | website = WMTV15News.com | title = Packers fight song fires up fans for nearly 9 decades | access-date = March 26, 2025 | date = September 3, 2019 | agency = Associated Press }} Throughout the history of the Packers, the song has been played during player introductions, after extra points, and after touchdowns. More recently, the song has been played by the “Packers Tailgaters”, small musical groups who perform in Lambeau Field’s parking lot before games. The song is also related to the chant "Go Pack Go!", which is often played during games and chanted by fans. In 2001, a local artist produced a limited edition print of the song that honored its 70th anniversary and highlighted the 80 years of team history.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/baraboo-news-republic-packer-fight-song/168755180/ | title = Packer Fight Song Inspires Artist: Part 1 | last = Spychalla | first = Craig | date = | access-date = March 24, 2025 | newspaper = Baraboo News Republic | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 1 }}{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/baraboo-news-republic-packer-fight-song/168755200/ | title = Packer Fight Song Inspires Artist: Part 2 | last = Spychalla | first = Craig | date = | access-date = March 24, 2025 | newspaper = Baraboo News Republic | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 2 }} The song has been played in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

• "Bang the Drum All Day" – 1983 song played after the Green Bay Packers score a touchdown
• "Green & Yellow" – 2021 song about the Green Bay Packers by Lil Wayne

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Category:History of the Green Bay Packers

Category:NFL fight songs

Category:1931 songs