2008 Woodie Awards
A Rambling Wreck
The Mining Engineer: Not Only at Mines
By Lily Giddings
9/3/07 - Features
"A helluva engineer!" These proud words are sung by Colorado School of Mines students at sporting events, at celebrations and just when they feel like it. But did you know that CSM is not the only school for which these words have meaning?
While Mines has used "The Mining Engineer" as a fight song since the 1870's, several other schools in the nation use altered versions of the song. Dickinson College in Pennsylvania adopted the song in the 1850's; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute adapted the song in 1895 and called it "A Son of Old R.P.I"; finally, Georgia Institute of Technology adopted their version in 1905 as their official fight song, titled "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech".
These songs all originated from "Son of a Gambolier," which was a popular song in the 1800's. The original song is half an expression of grief over living in poverty, and half a ribald drinking song:
"Like every jolly fellow,
I takes my whiskey clear
For I'm a rambling rake of poverty
And the son of a gambolier."
The fight songs are understandably a great deal more cheerful. There are similarities throughout most versions of the song: the reference to a college bell, started by Dickinson College; the reference to whiskey from the original song; and, of course: "A helluva engineer."
While Mines has used "The Mining Engineer" as a fight song since the 1870's, several other schools in the nation use altered versions of the song. Dickinson College in Pennsylvania adopted the song in the 1850's; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute adapted the song in 1895 and called it "A Son of Old R.P.I"; finally, Georgia Institute of Technology adopted their version in 1905 as their official fight song, titled "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech".
These songs all originated from "Son of a Gambolier," which was a popular song in the 1800's. The original song is half an expression of grief over living in poverty, and half a ribald drinking song:
"Like every jolly fellow,
I takes my whiskey clear
For I'm a rambling rake of poverty
And the son of a gambolier."
The fight songs are understandably a great deal more cheerful. There are similarities throughout most versions of the song: the reference to a college bell, started by Dickinson College; the reference to whiskey from the original song; and, of course: "A helluva engineer."
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