History of the Waltz

#1
Volunteer2012

Volunteer2012

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2007
Messages
538
Likes
587
#1
Does anyone know the history of playing the Tennessee Waltz after every game? I know it's an official state song. MTSU plays it after every game as well, do all state schools in Tennessee do this? When did this tradition start?
 
#2
#2
I dunno, but Patsy Cline knocked it out of the park, out of the atmosphere, straight through the moon into the next galaxy imo
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#4
#4
I don't know the answer to your question, but I can shed light on its use by General Neyland to great psychological effect. For those of you who want a citation/link for the narrative I am about to share, please fast-forward to the 34:33 mark of this documentary about Neyland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBWJgoBZTeM). This account is provided by Hugh Faust, who played on the 1928-29 teams with Bobby Dodd and Gene McEver. Faust later served as an assistant coach under Neyland. According to Faust, Neyland was preparing to give his pre-game address prior to the Vols’ 1951 Cotton Bowl game with Texas. Neyland sensed that his team was keyed up, indeed a bit too much for his taste. He heard the strains of the “Tennessee Waltz” wafting through the locker room windows that opened onto the concourse. He then cupped his hand to his ear, paused and, without saying a word, began to dance a waltz by himself. For this disciplined military man to do so publicly struck the team as so out of character that they stared in disbelief for a few seconds before erupting into a prolonged round of laughter. Without saying a word, Neyland cut through the tension that hung over his team and then proceeded to give his pre-game remarks.

Neyland again employed humor as a psychological weapon at halftime. I regret that I cannot recall my source for this incident, but, perhaps, its details will trigger the memory of some fellow “gray beard.” In any event, Tennessee then trailed Texas 14-7. Neyland basically told his team that “we’ve got them right where we want them. We are better conditioned than they are, they will have to handle the ball a lot [in these rainy conditions] and, given how much they like to pass, they are bound to have a turnover or two.” Neyland had someone posted near the locker room door to inform him when the Longhorns were ready to return to the field. As they filed past Tennessee’s locker room, a carefully orchestrated burst of laughter erupted from the Volunteers, one intended to convey the message that “we aren’t the slightest bit disheartened, we’re confident and we’re still loose.” Tennessee proceeded to win that game 20-14 and the general consensus was that General Neyland had never been happier about any single win than that Cotton Bowl victory over Texas.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 11 people
#6
#6
Volunteer2012 said:
Does anyone know the history of playing the Tennessee Waltz after every game? I know it's an official state song. MTSU plays it after every game as well, do all state schools in Tennessee do this? When did this tradition start?
Click to expand...

I was in the band at ETSU 20 years ago... We played the Waltz at sporting events.
 
#7
#7
Incidentally, although we all know that Wikipedia pages are of highly variable quality, this reference (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Waltz) indicates that, as of 1974, "Tennessee Waltz" was "the biggest selling song ever in Japan" (citing Williams, Bill "Country Cross-Over to Pop Grows" Billboard 28 December 1974, Section 2, pp. 4, 46).

Additionally, "On the Cash Box charts, "Tennessee Waltz" reached #1 on December 30, 1950 with the Patti Page, Jo Stafford, Guy Lombardo and LesPaul/Mary Ford versions being given a tandem ranking; as such "Tennessee Waltz" remained #1 in Cash Box through the February 3, 1951 chart. Therefore, it was at the absolute zenith of its popularity when Neyland did his impromptu performance to its now familiar strains.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#8
#8
I do not know about the post-game tradition. However, in the mid-50's it was always a pre-game song. It was also played during the TN Walking Horse period when a TN Walker was selected each week to parade around Neyland. It still brings me to a height of nostalgia.
 
#10
#10
OrangeByBirth said:
I do not know about the post-game tradition. However, in the mid-50's it was always a pre-game song. It was also played during the TN Walking Horse period when a TN Walker was selected each week to parade around Neyland. It still brings me to a height of nostalgia.
Click to expand...

I really miss seeing that...:cray:

GO VOLS!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#11
#11
The waltz was written in '48 by Pee Wee king and Redd Stewart. It was intended to be the Kentucky waltz but Pee Wee could'nt get the lyric to blend.
 
#13
#13
OrangeByBirth said:
I do not know about the post-game tradition. However, in the mid-50's it was always a pre-game song. It was also played during the TN Walking Horse period when a TN Walker was selected each week to parade around Neyland. It still brings me to a height of nostalgia.
Click to expand...

my uncle had a couple of grand champions back in the 1960's, always had a bit of nice memories watching those beautiful animals trot.....It was much later when I heard about how some of those horse's were in-humanely trained....
 
#15
#15
volroadwarrior said:
The PC police shut it down except for homecoming.
Click to expand...

The walking horse was stopped because 2 of them slipped turning the corner as they rounded the field about 20-30 years ago & they were afraid one would break a leg & have to be put down, so it became a HC only tradition. The last 2 years though, the horse hasn't pranced as a Tennessee Walker, it has just trotted around. I'm not sure why. I miss the high stepping! Anyone else notice this?
 
#16
#16
volboy81 said:
The walking horse was stopped because 2 of them slipped turning the corner as they rounded the field about 20-30 years ago & they were afraid one would break a leg & have to be put down, so it became a HC only tradition. The last 2 years though, the horse hasn't pranced as a Tennessee Walker, it has just trotted around. I'm not sure why. I miss the high stepping! Anyone else notice this?
Click to expand...

I thought they stopped bringing in the walking horses soon after the tartan turf was installed. The surface was slippery for the horses and the horses were also damaging the turf. When grass was re-installed, they decided to only bring them in for Homecoming.
 
#17
#17
LostinMillersCave said:
The waltz was written in '48 by Pee Wee king and Redd Stewart. It was intended to be the Kentucky waltz but Pee Wee could'nt get the lyric to blend.
Click to expand...

"Tennessee" gets put into a lot of songs.
The word has it's own rhythm. Great for ending a lyric, and it doesn't hurt that the capital of country music is in Tennessee.

Without much effort, I would bet most of you all could come up with 20 songs with "Tennessee" in the lyrics.
 
#18
#18
Volosaurus rex said:
I don't know the answer to your question, but I can shed light on its use by General Neyland to great psychological effect. For those of you who want a citation/link for the narrative I am about to share, please fast-forward to the 34:33 mark of this documentary about Neyland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBWJgoBZTeM). This account is provided by Hugh Faust, who played on the 1928-29 teams with Bobby Dodd and Gene McEver. Faust later served as an assistant coach under Neyland. According to Faust, Neyland was preparing to give his pre-game address prior to the Vols’ 1951 Cotton Bowl game with Texas. Neyland sensed that his team was keyed up, indeed a bit too much for his taste. He heard the strains of the “Tennessee Waltz” wafting through the locker room windows that opened onto the concourse. He then cupped his hand to his ear, paused and, without saying a word, began to dance a waltz by himself. For this disciplined military man to do so publicly struck the team as so out of character that they stared in disbelief for a few seconds before erupting into a prolonged round of laughter. Without saying a word, Neyland cut through the tension that hung over his team and then proceeded to give his pre-game remarks.

Neyland again employed humor as a psychological weapon at halftime. I regret that I cannot recall my source for this incident, but, perhaps, its details will trigger the memory of some fellow “gray beard.” In any event, Tennessee then trailed Texas 14-7. Neyland basically told his team that “we’ve got them right where we want them. We are better conditioned than they are, they will have to handle the ball a lot [in these rainy conditions] and, given how much they like to pass, they are bound to have a turnover or two.” Neyland had someone posted near the locker room door to inform him when the Longhorns were ready to return to the field. As they filed past Tennessee’s locker room, a carefully orchestrated burst of laughter erupted from the Volunteers, one intended to convey the message that “we aren’t the slightest bit disheartened, we’re confident and we’re still loose.” Tennessee proceeded to win that game 20-14 and the general consensus was that General Neyland had never been happier about any single win than that Cotton Bowl victory over Texas.
Click to expand...

My favorite story about Neyland's keen use of psychology comes from one of his early matches against Bama. If memory serves, Neyland approached Wade before the game, hat in hand, and said something to the effect of "if this game gets out of hand, would you mind shortening the second half?". Wade agreed. UT proceeded to win the game. Haha.
 
#19
#19
My Uncle, Elmore Brock, rode many horses around Shields-Watkins in the 1960's. He was always afraid the horse would slip or that the big crowd noise would spook his horse. He was short in stature, but a big man in complete control of his horse when in the saddle.
 
#20
#20
My notes on my copy:

Tennessee Waltz –Redd Stewart & Pee Wee King

Recorded by Patti Page in 1950, it spent 13 weeks at the #1 Spot in Billboard Best sellers

Always gets a strong response...up there with Amazing Grace...
 
#21
#21
LostinMillersCave said:
The waltz was written in '48 by Pee Wee king and Redd Stewart. It was intended to be the Kentucky waltz but Pee Wee could'nt get the lyric to blend.
Click to expand...

They changed it to Tennessee because of the mental imagery of brothers and sisters dancing produced when they sang kentucky waltz.
 
#23
#23
daj2576 said:
My favorite story about Neyland's keen use of psychology comes from one of his early matches against Bama. If memory serves, Neyland approached Wade before the game, hat in hand, and said something to the effect of "if this game gets out of hand, would you mind shortening the second half?". Wade agreed. UT proceeded to win the game. Haha.
Click to expand...


That was the 1928 game, which Tennessee won, 15-13. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhYIoOefbis.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top