"The Varsity Drag" is a pop song written by Ray Henderson (music), Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown (words), which became known in 1927.
The show had "The Varsity Drag" performed as the final number with a Charleston-like dance choreography.
[3] The number was used in the musical when Zelma O'Neal told the other students, "Let the professors worry about their dusty old books, we'll make Tait famous for the Varsity Drag."
The dance is introduced in the chorus of the song, starting with the lines:[1] Down with the heels, up on the toes, Stay after school, see how it goes.
Most notable are the original recordings from George Olsen (with vocal by Fran Frey) and Ruth Etting, as well as later versions by Benny Goodman, Patti Page, Spike Jones and His City Slickers, Tito Puente, and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra.