Since 1874 many songs have been written about The Lambs, by Lambs, for The Lambs. The Whiffenpoof Song has been embraced by the Club and is sung after each event and gathering; We join our hands, raise our spirits and voices to the refrain.
                The The Whiffenpoof Song has been used since the early 1900's by a group of a capella singers borne from Yale, called The Whiffenpoofs (aka The Whiffs).  The song was written in 1909 by Meade Minnigerode, George S. Pomeroy and Judge Todd B. Galloway.  The original words were, in part, based on Kipling's poem "Gentlemen Rankers"; and the name 'Whiffenpoof' is based on a fantasy creature from Victor Herbert's 1908 operetta, Little Nemo. Folklore has it that collegiate a capella singing in the United States began at Morey's Temple Bar, a private club on the Yale Campus founded in the 1840's,  where Louie, the proprietor, rewarded choral singing by Yale students with a round of drinks. The lyrics memorialize Louie, and the still operating Morey's.  Note: a capella is Latin for 'of the chapel' where harmony singing was most prevalent. Collegiate a capella singing is making a big comeback, with the Whiff's leading the way still singing The Whiffenpoof Song at the end of every concert; and still singing weekly at Morey's. The Whiff's have had some impressive members over the course of time including Vincent Price and President George W. Bush's grandfather. See the Whiffenpoof's web-page for a more detailed history on the Whiffs.
                This Baa! Baa! Baa! song was recorded by many including the Fred Waring Glee Club with Bing Crosby (the Waring group was a hugely popular chorale group for 30 years), and by Perry Como, Tex Beneke, Robert Merril, Rudy Vallee, Elvis Presely and Louis Armstrong. Vallee first sang the song while at Yale and later popularized it in 1936. It was also featured in Winged Victory in 1944. Since Victor Herbert, Fred Waring and Rudy Vallee were all Lambs it's no wonder why the song was adopted by our Fold. To see the lyrics and hear the Fred Waring/Bing Crosby recording, click on the flock.

                     Click on flock to play song

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