"Maine Stein Song" (Rudy Vallee, 1930)

[SilvanaPyralis]

Not a UMaine student yet, but I hope to transfer in.

This song reminds me of my early childhood at my aunt's house. My grandpa would put on old records of music from the 30s, and I'd spend so much time listening to those records playing games on the original NES. ^^ Very good memories.

[vaibanez17]

This song was "#1"(However they determined that back then) on April 26th, 1930, or the day my grandfather was born.

[whitewolf0282]

oh my lord

[metamango500]

STEIN SONG RULES. possibly the best fight song ever. should be adopted as a theme song for all of college football.

[medwaysman24]

GUSTAV NYQUIST!

[WhisperingCryptic]

I'm in the Umaine Bands and people go crazy when we play this song.

[angelface101706]

Im sorry guys i was so mad at my buddy sorry for saying fuck u all

[angelface101706]

fuck u all

[nalanosbod]

my story is identical to Glengarry 46 even down to the old wind up record player!,I used to play it over and over again and for some reason just lately I had been thinking about it.I havent heard it for almost 50 years almost wept when I heard it on youtube.

[FRAGIORGIO1]

My father studied at Dartmouth in the 20s (class of 1926), but he would sing this song back in the 1940, and maybe even in the '50s.

[barterfour]

GO MAINE!!!!!!!!

[cha5]

Sweet! I first heard this Rudy Vallie song on a very early 1930s Betty Boop Fleischer cartoon.

[BoidsiesRoblox]

I play this song at football games, it's my school's victory song. Weird to find it on Youtube...

[ryans91]

Im a first year at The University of Maine right now. And this song is amazing. I was in awe when they first sang it for us. its such a great tune. Go Big Blue!

[gomaine17]

great song... for young or old (coming from a 15 year old) viva los Black Bears

[likuowen]

The music of "Maine Stein Song" was adopted by Chinese in WWII. Adding patriot Chinese lyrics, it became a very famous patriot song in China and encouraged numerous Chinese to fight with Japanese invaders. Tens of millions Chinese people could sing this song at that time.

[likuowen]

The music of "Maine Stein Song" was adopted by Chinese in WWII. Adding patriot Chinese lyrics, it became a very famous patriot song in China and encouraged numerous Chinese to fight with Japanese invaders. Tens of millions Chinese people could sing this song at that time.

[likuowen]

In many occasions in WWII, Chinese soldiers sang this song along with their American allied force in battlefields. Therefore, the "Maine Stein Song" is not just a fight song for the great University of Maine, it is also remembered as a Chinese fight song in WWII.

[erzbet07]

What a great tune! I knew it was one of Mr. Vallee's signature tunes but had never heard him singing it..until now! Thanks for posting!

[Fantasma713]

Went to a graduation this past weekend... The Stein Song is way cooler. Go Blue!!

[revjoe250]

"To the trees, to the sky, to the Spring and its glorious happiness..."

They drink when they see a tree? Holy shit.

[katsway20]

Go Black Bears!

[1276epr]

the history of this song is complicated. It's apparently originally based on a German march, "Opie", and that title appears on Rudy's 78 records. How Rudy altered the song is unclear. He speeded it up, I guess. However it emerged, what a wonderful song and, as MikeBlitzMag posted, a perfect record!

[wearedoctor]

can't wait to attend university of maine :D

[wheresnukka]

its wellllllll worth the wait good person

[umaineblackbear]

Go Blue!!!

[wearedoctor]

I LOVE IT HERE!!!!

[MikeBlitzMag]

Irrespective of the lyrics, this is one of those records that fires on all cylinders: enthusiasm, charisma, exuberance and joy. One of the most perfect records ever made! Rudy Vallee is greatly missed.

[1276epr]

He sure made superb records, didn't he, sounding like he had a slightly larger band than most of his contemporaries, or at least a fuller melody section.

[glengarry46]

My parents, in England, had this record. as a child I used to love listening to it on our old wind up record player. Why on earth we had it I'll never know. Great song, great lyrics, great days!! I've just come back from a week in Maine, and I'm thinking,... retirement....

[Waldocounty]

glengarry46: Good on you, but think it out: High costs in Maine for heat over the long winter, gas (long distances from place to place), high taxes, big bureaucracy for a small state, imposing mandates on your dream house; other rules & regs. The romantic Maine of old and summer vacations is not the Maine of today, having been overrun by out-of-staters who've imposed their big-state, big-city, hi-tax politics. If thinking retirement, hope you have a VERY well-protected nest egg.

[mainehockeyfreak11]

go blue!!!!

[ArtsyPhilosophyGuy]

Gotta love Rudy Vallee.

[Waldocounty]

Ayuh!

[ScandalB52]

My cousin he is a professor in that university,and yes they still do sing that song, and it is a very beautiful song,I love it

[chembobsother]

Though I moved down South toward the end of high school, and thus it would have been too expensive to go back to Maine for college - you make this Mainah very happy.

I love your channel and all the music - I wish I would have gone to school in those days. Alas! not many 21 year olds care for this.

[Nova1967bay]

How wonderful! I am an alumnus from 1970 & growing up in Bangor, I was familiar with the song from my earliest days. My sister who was ten years older than I would take me to football games where the "Stein Song" was very evident. I just yesterday (3/23/09) found a 78 rpm of this in an antique store!!! ....The war years I was on campus put a different emphasis on things-- believe me! ED M.

[ConspiracyToRiot]

this is why i love my state...a little different.. now but some still hold the old time classic values...

So Drink to the careless days!

[FrankLJ]

You know, this is good! It catches the reckless spirit of starting in life, when nothing is fixed, everything is possible and anything can be around the corner.

How did this come to be attached to Maine - a talented alumnus?

[BigIronOnHipMan]

The state where I want to live when I retire...

[bainsey89]

"Maine University?" It's THE University of Maine, thank you very much! And yes, we still sing this song with pride.

Let's Go Black Bears!

[RReady555]

Thanks for the correction--now fixed in the "More Info" section. Glad this great tune is still popular there!

Regards,

-RR

[DrKorn5]

@RReady555 except now the lyrics have been changed so they are PC and coed.

[abornpilot]

When you say Maine Black Bears, you've said it all!

[biohazardsperm]

The first thing they did at UMaine Freshman orientation was to take us into the field house and teach us this song, that is how important it is, even today.

[RReady555]

Thanks! Hope no paddles were involved... ;)

-RR

[1mizzoufan]

Do you know if any other school "Fight" songs had been made into Top 40 "pop" hits?

[RReady555]

Very good question!

I think "Ramblin' Wreck" (Georgia Tech) may have made the hit parade in the '20's--but not to #1. ;)

[Waldocounty]

1mizzoufan: None that are known. "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech.," "On, Wisconsin," the Notre Dame song, Yale's "We Are Poor Little Lambs,;" a few others became very popular, but the "Maine Stein Song" is the only one ever to make it onto the pop charts, which are calculated based on sales (in those days mostly sheet music, but also on recordings). That's chiefly due to Rudy Vallee and his wildly fanatical, immense fan base at the time.

[jzoren64]

im 43 i have never heard of this but my 92 yr old w/alzheimers was singing it 1 day and i was able 2 find it on lime wire she duz not remember much but knew every word 2 this song we thought it was very amusing 7/30/08 she is 92 today happy birthday aunt grace !!! i have since found the "78" its weird 2 hear this and 2 hear how music has evolved over time

[RReady555]

Long-term memory--even 80 years or more ago--can be startlingly resilient in Alzheimer patients...happy birthday to your Aunt Grace from Rudy & RR! ;)

[Waldocounty]

genia106: Yes, still sung. But several years ago, some "politically correct" imported prof launched a campaign to bowdlerize the lyrics because he deemed it glorification of excessive drinking. Thankfully, after a struggle, sensible heads prevailed and the original lyrics (by author-journalist Lincoln Colcord 1907, Searsport)remain. Music by Colcord's room-mate, music major Adelbert Sprague.

[RReady555]

Thanks, Waldo--thanks very much for that history and those insights. I've updated the information box to include composer Sprague.

Glad it's survived the bluestockings...just as it survived Prohibition.

Far and away the best American college song!

[genia106]

Rudy was great and so is this inspriational Stein Song! Would  you know if the students at Maine U. still sing this song? I hope they do. :)

Thank you.

[RReady555]

Thanks, genia...almost too jolly a piece to be a march. ;) Check out the "Related Videos" window to the right--there's a MAINE STEIN SONG 2008 video which underscores the continuing popularity of the song. ;)

Best,

-RR