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Will R. Anderson, a songwriter active from about 1898-1910, wrote this song in 1902. It proved to be his most enduring composition, featured in a hit musical "The Silver Slipper" which ran on Broadway for 160 performances
starting in late 1902 (see the Internet Broadway Database for more details). Also, more infamously, the Boston Red Sox cheerleading squad sang it
when that team played the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1903 World Series. This song has been revived by the Red Sox fans this year, 101 years later, and now that team has won the 2004 World Series - for the first time since 1918.
This particular web page has been getting a lot of attention from Red Sox fans recently, and I'm proud to do my part for the team! The recording featured here is from a Columbia brown wax cylinder, recorded in 1902, and is
performed capably by the prolific recording pioneer Dan Quinn. This copy got damaged in the first few grooves (probably from being tested on a 4-minute machine once) but plays well after that despite the occasional mold spot.
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