Lyr Add: Buckle Down, Winsocki

Subject: ADD: Buckle Down, Winsocki
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jun 99 - 07:20 AM

Buckle Down, Winsocki
Words and Music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
©1941, Chappell & Co.
from the musical comedy, Best Foot Forward

Buckle down, Winsocki, buckle down
You can win, Winsocki, if you knuckle down
If you break their necks
If you make them wrecks
You can break the hex,
So buckle down.

Make 'em yell, Winsocki, make 'em yell
You can win, Winsocki, if you give 'em hell
If you don't give in
Take it on the chin,
You are bound to win
If you will only buckle down.

If you fight you'll chuckle at defeat.
If you fight your luck'll not retreat.
Knuckle down, Winsocki, knuckle down.
You can win, Winsocki, if you buckle down.
If you mow them down,
If you go to town,
You can wear the crown,
If you will only buckle down.

JRO

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Buckle Down, Winsocki
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 24 Aug 24 - 06:56 PM

I'm so relieved to find this. I just heard a recording of the Glenn Miller Band playing this as an instrumental march, broadcast on WICN, the NPR radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts. That station has a program called the Folk Revival, so it should be no stranger to the Mudcat; but mostly the station broadcasts jazz, and it was in that context that they programmed the Glenn Miller Band recording -- one of the "V" recordings made when musicians were on strike, but they could still play for the troops, I think in 1941.

Of course, when the announcer disclosed the title, I believed that I heard
"Buckle Down When Soggy," which definitely got my attention.
But this is much better.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Buckle Down, Winsocki
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Aug 24 - 11:02 AM

The first time I heard this tune, it was in the 1960's,
and the tune was used with different words for a commercial PSA
about fastening your seat belt when riding in a car.

Buckle up for safety, buckle up
Buckle up for safety, always buckle up
Put your mind at ease
Tell your riders please
Keep your seat belts buckled
Everybody buckle up!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Buckle Down, Winsocki
From: leeneia
Date: 26 Aug 24 - 09:14 PM

I heard this on a TV variety show, probably in the 1950's. Since then I've wondered if I dreamed it. I didn't understand any of the words after "Buckle down, Winsocki, buckle down," and it was probably just as well.

I'm glad to have the mystery of Winsocki cleared up, but when I want a fight song, I turn to "Fight Fiercely, Harvard."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Buckle Down, Winsocki
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Aug 24 - 11:44 PM

And the song is from the movie musical Best Foot Forward, set at the fictional Winsocki Military Institute.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Buckle Down, Winsocki
From: leeneia
Date: 31 Aug 24 - 12:15 AM

Thanks, Joe. I might watch that movie on Youttube. I laughed out loud when Wiki told me that an actress plays Miss Delaware Water Gap.

Why is that funny? I can't say. It's like the Irish Waxworks Show in the song the 'The Pride of Pimlico', which makes me laugh every time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Buckle Down, Winsocki
From: keberoxu
Date: 31 Aug 24 - 11:03 AM

I also saw that that movie features Lucille Ball, who must have been relatively young then.

This little fight song has been recorded/sung by such people as
Bing Crosby, Blossom Dearie, and Liza Minnelli.