More on Hotty Toddy

 
By Gerald W. Walton
As mentioned earlier, in 1931, Ole Miss music professor Arleen Tye wrote a song titled “Ole Miss,” which included a chorus that began with something similar to our Hotty Toddy cheer. Football News included an article reporting that the song “was originally dedicated to the coeds of the institution. Its name suggests the background of Southern aristocracy coupled with the well- recognized hospitality of the Southlands.
The name  ‘Ole Miss’ was given originally to the lovely and aristocratic ladies of the Southern plantations before the Civil War.  It is fitting that the key song ‘Ole Miss’ should be the key song of the University of Mississippi, which is in the heart of the Southlands. It has a double significance, also, because in addition to meaning the ‘Ole Mistresses’ of the South, it forms the first part of Mississippi, which is an old institution in that state. The words are stirring and are accompanied by a lively cadence.”
The composer said, “When I was asked to write the song for the University, I deemed it not work but a labor of love.” The writer for Football News said, “Since the writing of this song, the students have given it a greater significance by using it on all occasions when Mississippians gather. It exemplifies the spirit of the Old South and boasts of the reputation of the University in its ranks with all other famous institutions of higher learning.” The words of Professor Aileen H. Tye’s “Ole Miss” are these:
I
Oh, Cheer, Boys, cheer for Mississippi,
For Mississippi, for Mississippi, Our “Ole Miss,”
Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah, Toast “Ole Miss.”
Bost “Ole Miss”
Love “Ole Miss.”
Bright may be her skies above
Here’s luck dear, “Ole Miss.”
O, Watch “Ole Miss” come down the line, boys.
We won’t give in, Boys,
We’ll fight like sin, Boys.
The gang’s all there to see you win, Boys.
To win the game for our “Ole Miss.”
Chorus
Hi-ty Ti-ty Gosh a’mighty
Who the heck are we?
Oh, we come from Mississippi
From Mississippi, “Ole Miss.”
II
Oh, Fight, Boys—Fight for Mississippi
We’ll win the game, Boys
And boost her name, Boys,
Win the day for “Red and Blue,” Boys
For Mississippi, Our “Ole Miss.”
Fight, Boys, fight for my “Ole Miss”
Your “Ole Miss”
Our “Ole Miss”
Red and Blue depend on you
Here’s luck to “Ole Miss”
Oh Victory of Mississippi
We’ve got the rep, Boys,
We’ve got the pep, Boys
Tell the world we’ll win the game, Boys
For Mississippi, Our “Ole Miss.”
Although the “Hi-ty Ti-ty Gosh a’mighty, Who the heck are we?” from Ms. Tye’s song are similar to the first two lines of our current Hotty Toddy, it seems more likely that our version came from the Highty Tighty cheer at Virginia Tech from 1919. As mentioned in the last issue, The Cadet Band there had a cheer that sources say was this:
Highty-Tighty! Christ Almighty!
Who the hell are we?
Rip, Ram, God Damn!
We’re from Division E!
It was supposedly “watered down” after World War II to
Highty-Tighty! We are mighty!
Who the hell are we?
Biff, Bam, I’ll be damned!
We’re the Band, you see.
I have not talked to anyone who remembers Professor Tye’s song and have talked to one person who said her husband remembered our Hotty Toddy cheer when it was Highty-Tighty instead of Hotty Toddy.
Anyone who remembers earlier versions of the current Hotty Toddy are urged to write to us at hottytoddynews@gmail.com