Simmons Traditional Song by Marion Fitch '19
Files
Citation
Fitch, Marion Abbie, “Simmons Traditional Song by Marion Fitch '19,” Simmons 125 to America 250, accessed July 23, 2026, https://beatleyweb.simmons.edu/s125-a250/items/show/29.
Title
Simmons Traditional Song by Marion Fitch '19
Subject
Simmons College (Boston, Mass.)
Description
Simmons Traditional Song by Marion Fitch '19 visual for song book and audio for sound of piano
Creator
Fitch, Marion Abbie
Source
Simmons University Archives (Boston, Mass.)
Publisher
Simmons College (Boston, Mass.)
Date
1935
Rights
Material from the Simmons University Archives collections are made available for study purposes only. For more information, or to request rights to reproduce or reuse any material, contact the University Archives at [email protected].
Format
Audiovisual
Language
English
Type
Moving Image
Transcription
Simmons TRADitional Song (Lyrics)
1. In Boston town long years ago there lived a man whose name was John To buy and cut his cloth just so was how he got along. Oh, when Johnny was a little lad around about sixteen, His fam’ly thought he was quite mad but he was not so green. He started bus’ness for himself and saved a lot of cash And after he had paid his debts he made a plan quite rash.
2. He thought he'd start a female school, a place from which much good could come Where girls could do things for themselves to brave the old world’s hum But, in sev’nty two a big fire raged; his plans were sent askew Then after nearly thirty years the fund was built anew. And then the charter was obtained in ninety nine, ‘tis true The College was on Saint Botolph in the year nineteen two.
3. Mr. Lefavour was the President and he was liked by not a few But first in the hearts of college girls came our dear Dean Sally Lou Oh, she held the chair for many a year; Hoover saw the work she’d done And for the National Food Relief took her to Washington. In nineteen hundred three, the school was moved to Boylston Street Then to Fenway in nineteen four they went with eager feet.
4. Two years fled by with lightning speed we're hap-py that we can relate That in the year of nineteen six did the first class graduate. Joy and then again in nineteen nine, praise be to dear old John They took some money from out the fund and built the West Wing on. To keep tradition well in tact in real New England state They build a stylish cupola, the school to ventilate.
5. Alas, alack, the war broke out, no loyal Simmons girl would shirk Without neglecting studies they turned out to do war work. Oh, the bandages they made were fine, gray socks they made with glee The knitting needles flew like mad for the boys across the sea. How happy Johnny would have been to see his dream come true The girls they know just how to think and also how to do.
6. The years rolled by and from the school young ladies marched with fearless tread And in professional ranks they were as usual at the head. Oh, into hotels they gaily tripped, in tea rooms by the score And profits rolled in rapidly as they never had before. In chemists’ labs for hours long they toiled with earnestness Till by their brains they soon became assistants and no less.
7. With all the knowledge they could cram, girls seemed to have the time to play And on the tennis courts they’d sport, long skirts did not delay. Oh, but best of all throughout the year in every kind of way Was when the girls turned out and had a snappy old Field Day, And then on May Day all the girls around the Maypole danced But two poles weren’t as good as one although it once was chanced.
8. Old customs change and new ones come but to old ones we hold quite fast And singing on the college steps is one that’s bound to last. Oh, with pretty lanterns gaily hung at Prom time as you know The halls with joy then do resound for each girl has her beau. And now the girls can flirt and smoke as they never could before Because there always stood quite prim a chap’rone at the door.
9. We used to have a lot of fun until they tightened up the reins And now the ghost walk it is gone with its liver and its chains. Oh, in spite of freedom which they won, in spite of customs too, The Simmons’ girl spends most her time learning to think and do. John Simmons’ dream has now at last become a living thing And now with all our might and main his praises we will sing.
1. In Boston town long years ago there lived a man whose name was John To buy and cut his cloth just so was how he got along. Oh, when Johnny was a little lad around about sixteen, His fam’ly thought he was quite mad but he was not so green. He started bus’ness for himself and saved a lot of cash And after he had paid his debts he made a plan quite rash.
2. He thought he'd start a female school, a place from which much good could come Where girls could do things for themselves to brave the old world’s hum But, in sev’nty two a big fire raged; his plans were sent askew Then after nearly thirty years the fund was built anew. And then the charter was obtained in ninety nine, ‘tis true The College was on Saint Botolph in the year nineteen two.
3. Mr. Lefavour was the President and he was liked by not a few But first in the hearts of college girls came our dear Dean Sally Lou Oh, she held the chair for many a year; Hoover saw the work she’d done And for the National Food Relief took her to Washington. In nineteen hundred three, the school was moved to Boylston Street Then to Fenway in nineteen four they went with eager feet.
4. Two years fled by with lightning speed we're hap-py that we can relate That in the year of nineteen six did the first class graduate. Joy and then again in nineteen nine, praise be to dear old John They took some money from out the fund and built the West Wing on. To keep tradition well in tact in real New England state They build a stylish cupola, the school to ventilate.
5. Alas, alack, the war broke out, no loyal Simmons girl would shirk Without neglecting studies they turned out to do war work. Oh, the bandages they made were fine, gray socks they made with glee The knitting needles flew like mad for the boys across the sea. How happy Johnny would have been to see his dream come true The girls they know just how to think and also how to do.
6. The years rolled by and from the school young ladies marched with fearless tread And in professional ranks they were as usual at the head. Oh, into hotels they gaily tripped, in tea rooms by the score And profits rolled in rapidly as they never had before. In chemists’ labs for hours long they toiled with earnestness Till by their brains they soon became assistants and no less.
7. With all the knowledge they could cram, girls seemed to have the time to play And on the tennis courts they’d sport, long skirts did not delay. Oh, but best of all throughout the year in every kind of way Was when the girls turned out and had a snappy old Field Day, And then on May Day all the girls around the Maypole danced But two poles weren’t as good as one although it once was chanced.
8. Old customs change and new ones come but to old ones we hold quite fast And singing on the college steps is one that’s bound to last. Oh, with pretty lanterns gaily hung at Prom time as you know The halls with joy then do resound for each girl has her beau. And now the girls can flirt and smoke as they never could before Because there always stood quite prim a chap’rone at the door.
9. We used to have a lot of fun until they tightened up the reins And now the ghost walk it is gone with its liver and its chains. Oh, in spite of freedom which they won, in spite of customs too, The Simmons’ girl spends most her time learning to think and do. John Simmons’ dream has now at last become a living thing And now with all our might and main his praises we will sing.
Original Format
Song book
Duration
56 seconds
Compression
MPEG-4
Producer
Simmons University