How to Sing University of Illinois Fight Songs

The University of Illinois has a lot of fight built right into its name. The Fighting Illini are one of the Big Ten Conference's perennial powerhouses, and have an impressive lineup of fight songs to prove it.

Instructions

    • 1

      Learn the words to "Oskee Wow-Wow," which is a little peppier than "Illinois Loyalty." The first verse goes: "Old Princeton yells her tiger, Wisconsin her varsity. And they give the same old Rah-rah-rah! at each university. But the yell that always thrills me, and fills my heart with joy is the good old Oskee-Wow-Wow that they yell at Illinois."

    • 2

      Memorize the chorus: "Oskee-Wow-Wow, Illinois! Our eyes are all on you. Oskee-Wow-Wow, Illinois! Wave your orange and your blue. Rah! Rah! When the team trots out before you, every man stand up and yell. Back the team to gain a victory. Oskee-Wow-Wow, Illinois!"

    • 3

      Learn the first verse of "Illinois Loyalty." It goes: "We're loyal to you Illinois, we're orange and blue, Illinois, we'll back you so stand 'gainst the best in the land, for we know you have sand, Illinois! Rah! Rah! So crack out that ball Illinois, we're backing you all Illinois, our team is our fame protector--on, boys! For we expect a vict'ry from you, Illinois!"

    • 4

      Learn the chorus to "Illinois Loyalty," which goes: "Che-he! Che-ha! Che-ha-ha-ha! Go Illini, go! Che-he! Che-ha! Che-ha-ha-ha! Go, Illini go! Illinois! Illinois! Illinois!"

    • 5

      Impress everyone around by knowing the full second verse: "Fling out that dear old flag of orange and blue, lead on your sons and daughters, fighting for you. Like men of old, on giants placing reliance, shouting defiance: oskee wow-wow! Amid the broad green plains that nourish our land, for honest labor and for learning we stand. And unto thee we pledge our heart and hand, dear Alma Mater Illinois."

    • 6

      Listen to audio clips of the songs you want to learn to sing. As the song progresses, follow along using the transcribed lyrics. Repeat this process until you know the song more or less by heart.

    • 7

      Overcome any problems in streaming audio playback caused by slower Internet connections by downloading the songs directly onto your computer. Beware of violating copyright law. Pay for the songs if necessary, and make sure to practice safe online transaction procedures, such as clearing your browser's memory cache and history.

    • 8

      Sing along with the songs as you play them. Once you have mastered that and can do it without having to read off your lyrics sheet, shut off the audio and sing out loud. You might want to close the windows if you're worried about your neighbors wondering why you're singing college fight songs out loud for no apparent reason!

    • 9

      Repeat this process until you have the songs you wanted to learn committed to memory. Go Fighting Illini!