This 1939 hit song was written—words and music—by UT students Josephine Carringer and Betty Lynn. Carringer had also composed the music for the popular “Three Little Fishes” but failed to claim copyright. She took no chances in spring 1939, making singer Larry Clinton—in town to perform at spring formal dances— sign a contract on a soup-stained paper napkin guaranteeing credit to the originators, if used, before they would share their new ditty, “Wanna Hat With Cherries.” The words were by Lynn and the music by Carringer. Shortly thereafter, they received a check for $100 from the publishers for performance of the song on May 17, with additional funds to be received from later use. On August 23, Kitty Kallen recorded the song on Columbia records, with the Jack Teagarden Orchestra, and it was widely played and sung—most notably with the Glenn Miller orchestra.