Hail to the Redskins
Encyclopedia
Hail to the Redskins is the fight song for the Washington Redskins
. It was written sometime between 1937 and 1938 and was performed for the first time as the Official Redskins Fight Song on August 17, 1938. The music composed by the Redskins team band leader, Barnee Breeskin, and the lyrics were written by Corinne Griffith
, the wife of the Redskins team owner, George Preston Marshall
.
moved the Redskins from Boston, MA to Washington, DC. With this move and the introduction of his team to the nation's capital, Marshall commissioned a 110 member band to provide the new fans with the "pomp and circumstance" and "pageantry" of a public victory parade. Marshall stated that he wanted to his team and their games to emulate the spectacle of the Roman Gladiators at the Coliseum. He oufitted the band with $25,000 worth of uniforms and instruments and asked the band leader, Barnee Breeskin, to compose a fight song worthy of such a team of gladiators and warriors. Breeskin composed the music, and the original lyrics were penned by Marshall's wife, Corinne Griffith
. So, this song was not the fight song of the original Boston Redskins team; it was, in fact, written for what Marshall saw as his new Redskins team. Hail to the Redskins was written and introduced in 1938, the year after the Boston Redskins made their transfer to Washington, DC.
The original lyrics were written to reflect the Indian Warrior imagery of the team as the Redskins. These original lyrics were never intended to disparage any groups of people or any Native Americans; the song was written at a time when American public consciousness was not as focused on the political correctness of the culture as it is in current times. So, the lyrics were eventually updated to the lyrics sung today which are considered to be more politically correct
than they were originally. Nonetheless, much of the lyrics remain the same and the fight song is one of the oldest known football fight songs in all of American professional football.
Hail to the Redskins is the second oldest fight song
for a professional American football
team; the oldest fight song is "Go! You Packers! Go!
", composed in 1931. During the 1938 season the Redskins played their new fight song for fans in attendance at the games as they played the Philadelphia Eagles, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Cleveland Rams, the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Chicago Bears football teams.
were born.
. The second stanza of the original version exhorted the team to "scalp" their opponents, and invoked more stereotypes with lines like "we want heap more!" Those phrases have since been replaced with standard football play references like "run or pass or score, we want a lot more".
Despite these changes, some Native American groups still take offense to the lyrics in their present form. First, the song references the team name, Redskins. There has been considerable debate over whether the term "redskin" is a racial slur against Native Americans. Second, the line "braves on the warpath" is another alleged stereotype, similar to the removed "scalping" reference. Both phrases also refer back to the team's origin in Boston, as the team was named after the Boston Braves
.
The updated version is seen as less offensive. It remains one of the most popular and well-known fight song
s in the NFL. For example, on November 30, 1972 The Seldom Scene
released on Rebel Records
a version of the song lasting 2:02 which originally appeared as a 45rpm record but that is now readily available as an MP3 download from mainstream outlets such as amazon.com.
of the Korean Baseball Organization
use the tune of "Hail to the Redskins" in their own fight song.
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. It was written sometime between 1937 and 1938 and was performed for the first time as the Official Redskins Fight Song on August 17, 1938. The music composed by the Redskins team band leader, Barnee Breeskin, and the lyrics were written by Corinne Griffith
Corinne Griffith
Corinne Mae Griffith was an American actress. Dubbed "The Orchid Lady of the Screen", she was one of the most popular film actresses of the 1920s and widely considered the most beautiful actress of the silent screen...
, the wife of the Redskins team owner, George Preston Marshall
George Preston Marshall
George Preston Marshall was the owner and president of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League from 1932 until his death in 1969.-Contributions:...
.
History
In 1937, Redskins team owner George Preston MarshallGeorge Preston Marshall
George Preston Marshall was the owner and president of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League from 1932 until his death in 1969.-Contributions:...
moved the Redskins from Boston, MA to Washington, DC. With this move and the introduction of his team to the nation's capital, Marshall commissioned a 110 member band to provide the new fans with the "pomp and circumstance" and "pageantry" of a public victory parade. Marshall stated that he wanted to his team and their games to emulate the spectacle of the Roman Gladiators at the Coliseum. He oufitted the band with $25,000 worth of uniforms and instruments and asked the band leader, Barnee Breeskin, to compose a fight song worthy of such a team of gladiators and warriors. Breeskin composed the music, and the original lyrics were penned by Marshall's wife, Corinne Griffith
Corinne Griffith
Corinne Mae Griffith was an American actress. Dubbed "The Orchid Lady of the Screen", she was one of the most popular film actresses of the 1920s and widely considered the most beautiful actress of the silent screen...
. So, this song was not the fight song of the original Boston Redskins team; it was, in fact, written for what Marshall saw as his new Redskins team. Hail to the Redskins was written and introduced in 1938, the year after the Boston Redskins made their transfer to Washington, DC.
The original lyrics were written to reflect the Indian Warrior imagery of the team as the Redskins. These original lyrics were never intended to disparage any groups of people or any Native Americans; the song was written at a time when American public consciousness was not as focused on the political correctness of the culture as it is in current times. So, the lyrics were eventually updated to the lyrics sung today which are considered to be more politically correct
Politically Correct
Politically Correct may refer to:*Political correctness, language, ideas, policies, or behaviour seeking to minimize offence to groups of people-See also:*Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, book by James Finn Garner, published in 1994...
than they were originally. Nonetheless, much of the lyrics remain the same and the fight song is one of the oldest known football fight songs in all of American professional football.
Hail to the Redskins is the second oldest fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
for a professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team; the oldest fight song is "Go! You Packers! Go!
Go! You Packers! Go!
"Go! You Packers! Go!" is the fight song of the Green Bay Packers, and the first for a professional American football team. It was written by Eric Karll, a commercial jingle writer in Milwaukee, and first played at a Packers football game by the Lumberjack Band in 1931.The rights to "Go! You...
", composed in 1931. During the 1938 season the Redskins played their new fight song for fans in attendance at the games as they played the Philadelphia Eagles, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Cleveland Rams, the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Chicago Bears football teams.
Dallas Cowboys controversy
When the NFL began considering Texas as the state to host a proposed expansion team, the move was strongly opposed by the Redskins owner, who had enjoyed a monopoly in the South for three decades. Potential owner Clint Murchison, who was trying to bring the NFL to Dallas, bought the rights to "Hail to the Redskins" from a disgruntled Breeskin and threatened to prevent Marshall from playing it at games. Marshall agreed to back Murchison's bid, Murchison gave him back the rights to the song, and the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
were born.
Native American stereotypes
The original lyrics also perpetuated stereotypes of Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. The second stanza of the original version exhorted the team to "scalp" their opponents, and invoked more stereotypes with lines like "we want heap more!" Those phrases have since been replaced with standard football play references like "run or pass or score, we want a lot more".
Despite these changes, some Native American groups still take offense to the lyrics in their present form. First, the song references the team name, Redskins. There has been considerable debate over whether the term "redskin" is a racial slur against Native Americans. Second, the line "braves on the warpath" is another alleged stereotype, similar to the removed "scalping" reference. Both phrases also refer back to the team's origin in Boston, as the team was named after the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
The updated version is seen as less offensive. It remains one of the most popular and well-known fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
s in the NFL. For example, on November 30, 1972 The Seldom Scene
The Seldom Scene
The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland.-Early history:The band formed out of the weekly jam sessions in the basement of banjo player Ben Eldridge. These sessions included John Starling on guitar and lead vocals, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone...
released on Rebel Records
Rebel Records
In 1980, Freeland sold the label to David Freeman, the founder of County Records. Rebel currently has 140 titles in print from more than 35 different artists and groups. In 2008, the label released 8 new titles, including ones from Ralph Stanley and Larry Sparks.-Notable artists:...
a version of the song lasting 2:02 which originally appeared as a 45rpm record but that is now readily available as an MP3 download from mainstream outlets such as amazon.com.
Other usage
The LG TwinsLG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
of the Korean Baseball Organization
Korean Baseball Organization
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The Korean romanization is Hanguk Peuro Yagu , a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight...
use the tune of "Hail to the Redskins" in their own fight song.