To thy colors true we shall ever be, Firm and strong, united are we.
Underneath thy pennant Pulses beat with pride And victory e'er shall be our aim O'er the nationwide, (Yell) Minnesota, hats off to thee, To thy colors true we shall ever be... Firm and strong, united are we.
The phrase 'Ski-U-Mah' was part of an early cheer for the U of M. Gopher fans traditionally thrust their fists in the air during the spell-out, and make a circular motion with their fist during the yell.
It was the subject of a 1909 contest held by the Minnesota Daily and the Minneapolis Tribune to write a suitable song for Minnesota football games, to replace the hymnlike "Hail!
The song was written by Floyd Hutsell, then the choir director of First Methodist Episcopal Church in Minneapolis.
Hutsell is best known outside Minnesota as "Robert LaMar," a prominent vaudeville and operetta actor and producer.
Sheet music to the winning song was published November 21, 1909, as a Supplement to the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.