Go, Vandals, Go

The song was composed {{Time ago|1930}} in 1930 by John Morris "Morey" O'Donnell,{{cite web|url=http://webpages.uidaho.edu/marchingband/sub/songs/govandals.html |work=University of Idaho Marching Band |title=Fight Song: Go, Vandals Go |access-date=September 29, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.govandals.com/hof.aspx?hof=143 |work=University of Idaho Athletics |agency=Hall of Fame |title=Morey O'Donnell |date=2012 |access-date=September 29, 2017}} the freshman class vice president{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem_1930/112 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Freshman Class |date=1930 |pages=108–109}} from Granite (between Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint). He graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School, the UI law school,{{cite web |url=https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1932/84 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook |title=Juniors |date=1932 |page=80}} and became a prominent attorney in the state at Moscow.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=83VfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2504%2C2671692 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=(obituary)|title=J.M. O'Donnell |date=January 11, 1977 |page=8A}} A member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, O'Donnell was a talented pianist and had played internationally before college. The title is similar to cross-state rival Idaho State Bengals song Growl, Bengals, Growl.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yhgGwFw_sNEC&dq=%22Growl,+Bengals,+Growl%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA25|title=College Fight Songs: An Annotated Anthology|page=25|first1=William E|last1=Studwell|first2=Bruce R|last2= Schueneman|year=2013|date=March 7, 2013|location=United States|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781136384677}}

The song was the freshman class' winning entry in the university's annual song and stunt fest in {{nowrap|May 1930,{{cite news |url=https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/argonaut/id/583?_ga=2.228652062.343941606.1506404953-374550616.1499903542 |work=Idaho Argonaut |location=(Moscow) |agency=(University of Idaho) |title=Freshman take both honors in song, stuntfest |date=May 16, 1930 |page=1}}{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1931/246 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Song and Stunt Fest (May 1930) |date=1931 |page=242}}}} and was soon played by the UI pep band at football games at MacLean Field. Previously, the Vandals had used a variation of "On, Wisconsin" as its fight song.

O'Donnell wrote the song almost entirely with whole notes and half notes to make it easy for a large football crowd to sing; he also added a heavy drumbeat to carry the spirit.

For many years, it has been cited as one of the top fight songs in the United States. For example, in 2002, Norm Maves, Jr. of The Oregonian in Portland described it as "the once and future king of college fight songs, with a fanfare lead-in that could motivate a successful infantry charge."

Came a tribe from the North, brave and bold,

Bearing banners of Silver and Gold;

Tried and true to subdue all their foes

Go Vandals, go mighty Vandals!

Go, Vandals, go,

Fight on with hearts true and bold,

Foes will fall before your Silver and your Gold.

The victory cannot be withheld from thee,

So all bear down for Idaho,

Come on old Vandals, go!

I-D-A-H-O

Idaho, Idaho, Go! Go! Go!

Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/pdf/Go_Vandals_Go.pdf |work=University of Idaho Library |agency=(special collections) |title=Go Vandals Go |date=May 1930}}

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Category:Big Sky Conference fight songs

Category:Idaho Vandals

Category:Year of song missing

Category:1930 songs