Written by the McCoys, the tune "Hang on Sloopy" became an Ohio State University favorite during sporting events. In 1985 the Ohio State Legislature added the song to the long list of official state symbols, at least that's what everyone thought. The Ohio General Assembly passed a joint resolution in 1985 recognizing "Hang On Sloopy" as Ohio's official rock song. At the time Ohio was the only state to have an official rock song.
The McCoys were from Dayton and it was Bert Berns and Wes Farrell who wrote the original lyrics to the tune. When it was first performed in 1964 by The Vibrations, it was originally called "My Girl Sloopy". However, another Ohio singer, Dorothy Sloop of Steubenville, changed the lyrics slightly to "Hang On Sloopy." With the popularity of Snoopy the dog in the Peanuts comic strip, Sloopy and Snoopy got confused a bit for a time. But in time everything got worked out and "Hang on Sloopy" became the official rock song for Ohio.
Hang on Sloopy and the OSU Marching Band first played the song on October 9, 1965 when the Ohio State Buckeyes took on the University of Illinois (OSU-28 / IL-14). The song was an immediate hit with the fans and it has become a regular tradition for all Ohio State University home games.
116th General Assembly
Although the 116th General Assembly tried to make "Hang on Sloopy" the official state rock song back in 1985, the song was never legally properly placed in Ohio state law along with the state’s other official state designations. Over the years and through several legislative attempts to correct this little detail.
In March of 2015 a bill making the song "Hang on Sloopy" Ohio's official state rock song of record was passed in the House. However, the bill has not yet been taken up by the Ohio Senate.