I am trying to research the history of our school song, titled "The Scotchman." It is not original to us. Through a Google search, I learned that many other universities, fraternities, and other entities here in the U.S. have their own versions, all dating to ca. 1900-1920. The consensus of the people I've contacted is that it may have originated from a folk tune or drinking song from the U.K. I have made some inquiries in the U.K., but so far they haven't found anything definite.

The lyrics to our version are as follows:

Show me the Scotchman who doesn't love the thistle;
Show me the Englishman who doesn't love the rose.
Show me the truehearted son of Old Wesleyan,
Who doesn't love the spot where the tumbleweed grows.

Other versions use "Scotsman" instead of "Scotchman"; "Irishman" instead of "Englishman"; and adapt the last two lines to fit the particulars of their institution or entity. Other titles include "Show me the Scotchman," "Fight On," "Where the Elm-Tree Grows," "Show me a Scotsman," and "True Heart." Our version is fairly solemn - sung through once and then hummed for the second round. Other versions - particularly the school fight songs - are more rousing and have accompanying gestures.

Can you give me any help in identifying the original song from which ours is derived? Or can you recommend other sources to contact? Any help you can give will be much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Laurie Langland
University Archivist
Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell, South Dakota
LaLangla@dwu.edu