In Gainesville, Florida, the song has been attributed to Robert Swanson and John Icenhour, two University of Florida students who supposedly debuted the tune in 1919 with their barbershop quartet and dance band. A collection of University of Florida pep songs from 1941, on the other hand, attributes "We Are the Boys" to Thorton W. Allen, a prolific composer and arranger of marching band music in the early 20th century.
In Gainesville, Florida, the song is attributed to Robert Swanson and John Icenhour, two University of Florida students who supposedly first performed it in 1919 with their barbershop quartet and dance band. Conversely, a collection from 1941 credits "We Are the Boys" to Thorton W. Allen, a prolific composer and arranger of marching band music.