| 22 October 2009
If you've ever been to a football game featuring the Tennessee Volunteers, then you know exactly what I mean by the words, "That Damn Song." If you don't know, then count yourself lucky.
Either way, let's play a little trivia game. Here's an easy one for you:
What is the official fight song for the University of Tennessee?
Answer: Here's to Old Tennessee
What?
That's an easy way to win a bet with most college football fans. Because most folks are going to say "Rocky Top" - otherwise known as "That Damn Song."
But according to the official website for UT athletics, it is, in fact, "Here's to Old Tennessee." The words are:
Here's to old Tennessee
Never we'll sever
We pledge our loyalty
Forever and ever
Backing our football team
Faltering never
Cheer and fight with all of your might
For Tennessee.
While that's not exactly awe inspiring, at least it has something to do with football. I say that because, well, "That Damn Song" has absolutely nothing to do with football.
Have you ever actually listened to "That Damn Song"? Here are the words:
Wish that I was on ole rocky top,
Down in the tennessee hills.
Ain't no smoggy smoke on rocky top,
Ain't no telephone bills.
Once there was a girl on rocky top,
Half bear the other half cat.
Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that.
Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top tennessee, rocky top tennessee.
Once two strangers climbed on rocky top,
Lookin' for a moonshine still.
Strangers ain't come back from rocky top,
Guess they never will.
Corn won't grow at all on rocky top,
Dirt's too rocky by far.
That's why all the folks on rocky top
Get their corn from a jar.
Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top tennessee, rocky top tennessee.
Now I've had years of cramped up city life,
Trapped like a duck in a pen.
Now all I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again.
Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top tennessee, rocky top tennessee.
I swear to you, those are the actual words. Smoggy smoke? Telephone bills? Corn? Moonshine? What the hell do those things have to do with football?
The reason it's played at football games is because it is one of seven state songs of Tennessee. I kind of understand that, it is a catchy tune - though I'd rather stab myself in the face with an ice pick 100 times than actually voluntarily listen to it. But have the folks in Tennessee actually ever listened to the words?
The lyrics are credited to Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, a sad piece of irony for Tennessee folks having to love something having been created by someone with the last name of Bryant.
One thing I find a bit humorous is that the University of Tennessee has been granted perpetual license to "play the song as much and as often as success on the field dictates." So does that mean that if Tennessee continues to suck on the field that the Bryant family could actually revoke the rights of its playing?
Regardless, the point of this post is to simply point out to you how ridiculous the words of "That Damn Song" actually are. So, in the off chance that the Vols have the cause to play it on Saturday, you can at least chuckle at the thought of how stupid the song really is.
That is, if you haven't grabbed the nearest sharp object with which to puncture you ear drums.
And, yes, I still hate orange.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
