The first time I ever heard this beautiful Hymn was on the National Day of Mourning for the slain young President John F. Kennedy. It is one of my fondest wishes to have this played at my own funeral.
Thanks for all of my uncle ; (George Salette -Radio man - USS Bagley Pearl Harbor- 7 December 1941) friends that lost their lives on that day. Thanks to Uncle George that spent decades contacting families to get the USS Arizona Memorial done.
My grandfather served in the Navy during WWII (Honorable Discharged an E3). Reminds me of him every time I hear this. May he Rest in Peace (21Nov1924-13Sep2002).
I'm from an old Royal Navy family. This hymn, beautifully sung here, is the most evocative, beautiful & haunting sound I know. I remember my poor Dad singing it in the Tanganyika, before he succumbed to malaria when I was five. He wasn't strong enough to survive the illness, due to injuries in the winter of 1942, when his Royal Navy Corvette was sunk by the Luftwaffe in the North Sea. He & seven others survived from a crew of 68. It caught up with him in Tanganyika. Pictures on my video.
I have been to many a skull session, and always love it when they play this. About 4-5 years ago, they played it when I took my dad to a game. He is an old WWII Navy vet, and when the first notes sounded, up he went, pulling me up with him. Off when his hat, and the old fella stood at attention the best he could during the song. Needless to say,I now do the same, every time, out of respect for my dad and country. Thanks for posting this Hoying.
It is pitiful that individuals do not have enough vocabulary that they resort to words that are unseemly and common. If one holds themselves to the highest and best, they can enjoy beautiful music and allow it to tame their savage breasts no matter the words. The most beautiful music in the world has been created in churches and places of worship for generations. Without faith and believing we would not have the beautiful music that has been passed on for all generations.
This is such a wonderful tradition! Though I'm a U-M fan, echo the sentiments of mitrumpetplaya and am very glad to see this. God bless our troops, their families, our President, and our nation!
My father, World War Two hero in the British Royal Navy, who died young (48 years old) because of what happened to him in the war, loved the Americans, and particularly the US Navy. He also loved this hymn.
I grew up near Ohio State but attended the Naval Academy. A beautiful rendition used to be sung by the Chapel Choir every Sunday, but when I went back to Navy a few years ago it was missing from the service. Hopefully it was just missing that one Sunday. I love the Ohio State arrangement, and the fact that the band both sings and plays the hymn. Thanks for posting this; I must admit to getting a little choked up while listening.
for my brother Jerry l. Myers served U.S.S.. Kittyhawk 1964-1968, and for our dad Ernest F. Myers U.S. Navy 1942-1945-----1925-1971----rest in peace and watch over all of us we love and miss you very much, Janice,Jerry,Chris,Jack,Mike,Patty and of cource Cindy louise. and all of our children and grandchildren.
I have heard this hymn so many times since I was a child. It was always played at the end of the TV Program NAVY LOG. Later I enlisted in the Navy and became very familiar with this hymn. It will be my last piece played at my funeral. Best rendition of this hymn was played by a concert in 1974 played by The Coast Guard Band at the Coast Guard Academy in Lemy Auditorium during one of their wonderful concerts.
This Hymn is receiving a special tribute next February at the Kennedy Center in Washington , DC.in special honor of President John Kennedy and his family who so respected its special meaning and message to all our services. The original English hymn has come across the Atlanric many years ago and has made its mark on our traditional rememberence services here. So glad to konw it has been adopted by other services as well.
I played this last year with my band! No singing though. WE played this as 7th graders. Obviously a less complicated version, maybe an easy high school piece... Beautiful!!!!
To think that these kids sang and then played the Navy Hymn is proof to me that they ARE TBDBITL. Is there another college marching band that can top this? I cry everytime I hear them perform this.
The OSU band played this again during the skull session of Saturday while the Navy drum and bugle corps stood at attention about 30 feet away. WOW...I was choked up! The whole game was just awesome with all of the videos from soldiers in Iraq, the tribute to the National Guard and the sergeant who was awarded the Purple Heart, the flyover....awesome.
Hoying, a magnificent performance!! In your last post, you mentioned men who were reduced to tears. I am not ashamed to admit, I am one of them. A retired sea warrior. =Stefan=
I think you all need a lesson in the origins of this hymn!! Here's what Wiki says... The original hymn was written by William Whiting of Winchester, England, in 1860. It was originally intended as a poem for a student of his, who was about to travel to the United States. In 1861, John B. Dykes, an Anglican clergyman, composed the tune "Melita" for this hymn. "Melita" is an archaic term for Malta, an ancient seafaring nation. Many other nations use it as their "Naval Hymn" - not just USA
If you ever get a chance to come to a skull session and see TBDBITL live, it will blow you away. Sit in front; the wall of sound will leave your jaw dropped. Remember, it's all about the band.
Really fabulous. Thanks for posting. I'd never attend a football game so I'd never see this band except on youtube. How did OSU come to choose this Hymn in particular? Whatever the reason, glad they did!
Thanks for the responce. I always like to know the real meaning behind expression like that, We tend to use American terms and expressions without knowing what they really mean.
Every University Marching Band has it's own traditions. The Skull Session is probably one of the better known in Ohio, however OU110 has a few pre-game things they do, as does the BGSU FMB. My school the University of Toledo Rocket Marching Band has several traditions (regardless of outcome of the game). One of my favorite when I was active was the playing of "Let us break bread together" after every game, it was something that we did to show unity to the corps, our school, & to the other team.
Welcome to Columbus Navy. Good luck and have a great time while your'e here this weekend. Feel free to turn the SEALs loose on any of our college hooligans that dont respect your service . OSU34 Navy 10
The skull session is an Ohio State term: to enhance the band's performance, members completely memorize music before each week's game. By doing this bandsmen could concentrate more on the marching maneuvers without sacrificing the music. Weigel then scheduled a final rehearsal of the music before game time so the band could play and think through the show one last time - one last "Skull Session." It has become a great Ohio State tradition before home football games
Before performing at a home Ohio State Football game, the band gets one last chance to practice their pre game and half time show. Since they don't use music sheets, they have to make sure that the music is memorized or stuck in their skull. This is why they call it skull session. Over the years, it is a very popular event to attend pre kickoff and has become a bit of a pep rally as noted elsewhere.
@ScottyUrb See, on occasion we Buckeyes and Wolverines HAVE to remember some things. I totally agree with you, God bless America. God bless Ohio State. And yes, God bless Michigan. Have a nice day :) See you in November ;)
Excuse my ignorance as a non-USA citizen, but what is a skull session? I must say I am impressed with the harmony singing by the band - and what a huge band! Is this from one school/college?
thanks I always try to find out musical usage words from other countries. saves you getting embarrased. eg you never root for a team here. root=fucking
AMadN12: I'm sure that if you compared the Navy Glee Club's singing of "Carmen Ohio", their version would not be as good as ours. Obviously a college's own chorus is going to perform it better--it means more to them. Duh.
@beerstudd76 Who even said I was communist? Just because I like having the rights laid out by the fucking BILL of rights doesn't make me a communist. If anything, it makes me nationalist.
@therandomexample Why does it show preference to one religion? I thought Jews and Muslims also believe in an eternal father...Perhaps I was mistaken....Anyway, why would anyone be upset by this hymn...It really makes people look petty when harmless traditions like these are whined about. I mean so they can never, ever sing a religious song, ever?
This hymn is trinitarian, with successive verses upon the role of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, concluding with the Trinity as a whole. It is therefore Christian.
1) who are the knuckleheads who keep walking by? 2) what's with all the incessant chatter in the background while they are performing? no one seems to have any semblence of manners anymore.
if you took modern school/college bands and replaced their instruments with flintlock rifles they would look like line of foot infantry regiments.......
@beerstudd76 I'm sorry, but what does the navy have to do with ACLU? Just because this is a disgusting trampling of my human rights doesn't mean this song cannot exist. This shouldn't be affiliated with the navy, seeing as though it is quite religious. The way I see it is that they can continue to use this, so long as I never have to provide anything for the government. I'm fine with not taking anything from them either.
Pity about the irreverent racket and awful noise of people at the beginning and also the not so nice "orchestration" in the middle - not one of my favourite renditions.
roger tupper you have persons that could sing what thay can play and u think that's no good yh you should choose something else cause u won't rip u might kill the song instead for bad taste lol
I think you all need a lesson in the origins of this hymn!! Here's what Wiki says... The original hymn was written by William Whiting of Winchester, England, in 1860. It was originally intended as a poem for a student of his, who was about to travel to the United States. In 1861, John B. Dykes, an Anglican clergyman, composed the tune "Melita" for this hymn. "Melita" is an archaic term for Malta, an ancient seafaring nation. Many other nations use it as their "Naval Hymn" - not just USA
