Hail to your Alma Mater!

[HappyAppy13]

What's your school's Alma Mater?
Do you like it, or would you change it (to what?)?
Who has the best one (lyrics wise...and besides being a Homer)?

Just seeing the perspective on Alma Maters in the FCS

[TypicalTribe]

Hark Upon the Gale. Good, not great.

[UAalum72]

Albany is the "College of the Empire State" , no matter that those rat-bastards in Syracuse are billing themselves as "NY's College Team"

Lyrics (http://www.albany.edu/about_history_almamater.php) are dated and formal, but alma maters aren't about being modern.

Audio: http://www.albany.edu/spirit/images/ht/serendipity.mpg

[TheValleyRaider]

ALMA MATER
Words by L. E. French 1902

When through thy valley,
Fair Chenango twilight falls,
Bringing its silence
To our college halls;
In that happy moment,
Love for Alma Mater swells,
And the heart outpouring,
Of her glory tells:

Chorus:
Colgate, Alma Mater,
Fairest theme of all our lays!
Colgate! Alma Mater,
Ever blest, thy days.

Far from thy valley,
Yearly rove thy loving sons,
Yet, in their dreaming,
E'er thy name returns;
'Tis the same fond spirit
Which the mem'ry lingers o'er
And our lips but echo
That old song of yore:

Repeat chorus twice - last time softly - until "Ever Blest Thy Days"

Link to Audio Files: http://www.colgate.edu/about/history/music

[HailSzczur]

You guys are allowed to sing loving sons?
it's a big to do at NOVA that they changed the words in ours from loyal SONS of Villanova to loyal heirs...for politically correct reasons. How wimpy.
When the band plays it i like yelling SONS as it should be

[Venaros]

Georgia Southern University - Alma Mater

From humble farm beginnings
Sprung up from sandy earth
Among the tow’ring pine trees
Stands a treasure of great worth.

Her price cannot be measured
In silver or in gold
But in the love and loyalty
That many hearts enfold.


Chorus:
Georgia Southern University.
On Eagles’ wings you soar.
We pledge to you our loyalty
And love for ever more.


Through triumphs and through trials
Our Alma Mater’s stood
As solid as the oak tree
For justice and for good.

As through these gates we travel
And though our ways must part,
Our Georgia Southern mem’ries
We’ll keep within our hearts.

Chorus


GSU's University Singers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRu6ET0gY3U

Instrumental - http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/audio/AlmaMater.mp3

There's something great about belting out "Georgia Southern University, on eagles win you soar!!!" in the chorus after a win. :D

[Skjellyfetti]

Cherished Vision

Cherished Vision of the Southland
Alma Mater in the Hills
Let us point our minds to wisdom
Til the truth our spirit thrills
Appalachian Alma Mater, through our heart the joy and pride
Lead us ever, lead us onward
Vanguard of the heroes' side

[Uncle Rico's Clan]

"Up with Montana"

Up with Montana, boys,
Down with the foe,
Good ole Grizzlies out for a victory;
We'll shoot our backs around the foemans line;
Hot time is coming now, oh, brother mine.
Up with Montana boys,
Down with the foe,
Good old Grizzlies triumph today;
And the squeal of the pig will float on the air;
From the tummy of the Grizzly Bear.

[superman7515]

The saddest sounding alma mater of any college. Almost sounds like you're sad to be there...

UD Alma Mater

Robert Currie
A.J. Loudis

Hail to thee proud Delaware,
In loyalty we stand.
We give thee thanks for glorious days
Beneath thy guiding hand.
Full often will we praise thy name,
Thy colors proudly bear;
We lift our voices now to sing
All hail to Delaware.

[Hammerhead]

I'm not sure what the official NDSU alma mater is, but this is the one we sang back in the 80s and 90s.

On the plains of North Dakota
Standing there for all to see,
Lies an old abandoned outhouse
That they call the University

Hail the Bison, Hail the Bison
With their tails up in the air
University, University
Sioux can kiss what's under there!

Bison once! Bison twice! - holy jumpin' jahosaphice!
ahhhh, s@*t -- spit-tobacco chew
We're the mighty Bison, who the F@#k are you!

[FargoBison]

"Yellow and Green"

Ho! A cheer for green and yellow.
Up with yellow and the green,
They're the shades that deck our prairies
Far and wide with glorious sheen,
Fields of waving green in springtime
Golden yellow in the fall,
How the great high-arching heaven looks and laughs upon it all.

Here in autumn throng the nations
Just to gather in the spoil,
Throng on freight cars from the cities
Some to feast and some to toil,
But the yellow grain flows eastward
And the yellow gold flows back,
Barren cities boast their plenty and the prairies know no lack.

Hushed up on the boundless prairies
Is the Bison's thund'ring tread,
And the redman passes with him
On his spoilers bounty fed,
But the Norse, the Celt, and Saxon
With their herds increase and find,
Mid these fields of green and yellow plenty e'en for all mankind

[Twentysix]

I'm not sure what the official NDSU alma mater is, but this is the one we sang back in the 80s and 90s.

On the plains of North Dakota
Standing there for all to see,
Lies an old, abandoned outhouse
That they call UND

Hail the Bison, Hail the Bison
With their tails up in the air
University, University
Sioux can kiss what's under there!

Bison once! Bison twice! - holy jumpin' christ!
ahhhh, s@*t --
c@ck s@#ker mother f@#ker get this man some chew
We're the mighty Bison, who the F@#k are you!

The non 80's version.

[Twentysix]

We also sing a derivation(SP?) of the lude yogi bear song.

[Tribe4SF]

Archaic lyrics don't have to hold an alma mater down. Here's The Accidentals bringing new life to "Hark Upon the Gale".

http://www.wm.edu/news/multimedia/2009/almamateraccidentals/index.php#popup

Lyrics below.

Hark the students' voices swelling,
Strong and true and clear,
Alma Maters love their telling,
Ringing far and near.

William and Mary loved of old,
Hark upon the gale.
Hear the thunder of our chorus,
Alma Mater hail!

God, our Father, hear our voices,
Listen to our cry.
Bless the College of our fathers,
Let her never die.

All thy sons are faithful to thee,
Through their college days,
Singing loud from hearts that love thee,
Alma Mater's praise.

Iron shod or golden sandaled,
Shall the years go by.
Still our hearts shall weave about thee,
Love that cannot die.

[AshevilleApp2]

Cherished Vision

Cherished Vision of the Southland
Alma Mater in the Hills
Let us point our minds to wisdom
Til the truth our spirit thrills
Appalachian Alma Mater, through our heart the joy and pride
Lead us ever, lead us onward
Vanguard of the heroes' side


I didn't know we had one.

[asucrutch23]

I didn't know we had one.

xeyebrowx We sing it before every game

[letsgopards04]

We’ll gather by the twilight’s glow
In front of old Pardee
In all the world no other scene,
So fair, so dear to me.
Oh Lafayette, Oh Lafayette
To thee our voices raise!
While loyal lips and loyal hearts
Unite to sing thy praise.
CHORUS

We’ll gather by the twilight’s glow
In front of old Pardee
In all the world no other scene,
So fair, so dear to me.

[Bam]

Eastern Kentucky University is unique in that it has not one, but two fight songs. The more commonly accepted and heard fight song is “Yea, Eastern,” which was written in 1932 by English student Mary Kathryn Burns and arranged by a music faculty member of the time, Helen Hull Lutes. The second, and less frequently used fight song, "Hail, Hail Eastern Maroons" was written in 1940 by Frank Wilcox, who was also a student, and was arranged by faculty member Henri Schnabl.

Rally Maroon and White - a.k.a. (Yea, Eastern)
Yea Eastern let's win this fight,
Rally Maroon and White;

We've got the spirit; you've got the speed,
These two with grit are all that we need;

So carry and pass that ball;
Show them our boys beat all;

Show them we're right with main and might;
The way to win is fight, fight, fight.

OR

Hail, Hail Eastern Maroons
Hail, Hail Eastern Maroons,
You're the pride of dear old Alma Mater.

Hail, Hail, Eastern Maroons,
For thee we'll give three rousting cheers.

Rah, rah, rah! Hail, Hail, Eastern Maroons,
Loyal to thee we stand,

Ever fight for the right,
We'll make our school the best in the land.

[AshevilleApp2]

xeyebrowx We sing it before every game

Obviously we don't. xlolx

[UAalum72]

Eastern Kentucky University is unique in that it has not one, but two fight songs. The more commonly accepted and heard fight song is “Yea, Eastern,” which was written in 1932 by English student Mary Kathryn Burns and arranged by a music faculty member of the time, Helen Hull Lutes. The second, and less frequently used fight song, "Hail, Hail Eastern Maroons" was written in 1940 by Frank Wilcox, who was also a student, and was arranged by faculty member Henri Schnabl.


Thread is about Alma Mater, not fight songs. Major difference in purpose and tone.

[asucrutch23]

Obviously we don't. xlolx

Haha, I was thinking you'd say that and that I should have written, "it's played before every game"

[Sader87]

Sung to the same melody (or is it harmony? not a music guy) as "Oh Tannenbaum" (Oh XMas Tree):

"Oh hear thy voices one in song
Holy Cross Oh Holy Cross!
Thy spirits loyal, true and strong
Holy Cross, Oh Holy Cross!
Thy purple banner floats on high,
While songs of praise swell to the sky.
Thy honored name will never die,
Holy Cross, Oh Holy Cross."

Two other fight songs "Chu Chu Rah Rah" and "Mamie Reilly" can also be found here:

http://goholycross.com/traditions/songs

[CrusaderBob]

[EDIT: Beat me to it 87. Here's both verses with the original lyrics from when the school was all men in parenthesis]

Sung to the tune of O Tannenbaum (also known as O Christmas Tree)

Oh hear thy voices one in song (Oh hear thy loyal sons in song)
Holy Cross, Oh Holy Cross!
Thy spirits loyal, true and strong (Thy sons are loyal, true and strong)
Holy Cross, Oh Holy Cross!
Thy purple banner floats on high,
While songs of praise swell to the sky.
Thy honored name will never die,
Holy Cross, Oh Holy Cross!

We give to thee our hearty praise
Holy Cross, Oh Holy Cross!
In memory of Happy Days
Holy Cross, Oh Holy Cross!
Ring Out Ring out old tower bell.
Our Alma Mater's triumphs tell.
To those who love her name so well
Holy Cross, Oh Holy Cross!

[Bam]

Thread is about Alma Mater, not fight songs. Major difference in purpose and tone.

Sorry. Eastern Kentucky University's alma mater:

Hail to thee our Alma Mater,
Faithful guide of youth,
Holding high amid the darkness
Duty, light, and truth;
Still above, the skies attend thee,
Still thy stately columns stand,
Still thy sons and daughters love thee
Sing thy praises o'er the land.

All the earth's resplendent beauty
Nature gathered here,
Rolling lawns and trees and grasses
On thy hillsides fair;
Happy days within thy shadow,
Friends and comrades we have won.
Fill our hearts with exaltation
For thy task so nobly done.

When beloved Alma Mater
Memory recalls
Other days of youth and laughter
In thy gracious halls;
When thy sons and daughters scattered
Turn again to thee,
Still thy lamp is brightly lighting
Us afar, that we may see.

[ASUMountaineer]

Cherished Vision

Cherished Vision of the Southland
Alma Mater in the Hills
Let us point our minds to wisdom
Til the truth our spirit thrills
Appalachian Alma Mater, through our heart the joy and pride
Lead us ever, lead us onward
Vanguard of the heroes' side

Here's a link to listen.

http://www.alumni.appstate.edu/express/songs.html

[TheRevSFA]

SFA's alma mater music ripped off "America, The Beautiful"...it's hard to sing for SFA amid amber waves of grain.....

"All Hail to SFA"

Oh future bright 'neath the
Purple and White
All hail to SFA.
'Mid Texas pines we have
Found peaceful shrines
Where ev'ry month is May.
Long live our Alma Mater,
Honor to thee for aye.
As years unfold,
happy Mem'ries we'll hold,
All hail to SFA...SU (yelled at the end)

Apparently we're proud of being a state u?

[ST_Lawson]

Western Illinois University:

"Western Loyalty"
Western students come together,
Learning life’s new way to pave.
Paths before us, ever striving,
Purple, gold, our colors brave.

We all hold the keys within us,
With new knowledge we will grow.
Stronger in our bond unyielding,
Truer to the world we know.

Chorus:
Hail to Western, Alma Mater,
May we honor thy fair name;
Hail to Western ever greater,
On to conquest and to fame.

Audio Recording (http://goo.gl/MZ78E)

[CrusaderBob]

Link to an mp3 file of the songs of Holy Cross.

Runs about 7 minutes but leads off with the Holy Cross Alma Mater to about the 1:45 mark.

http://college.holycross.edu/audio/choir/HCChoir_HC_Medly.mp3

For those interested in listening longer this link includes in order

- Alma Mater
- The Slogan (composed separately, is actually the second half the HC Fight song the Marching/Pep Band plays at games)
- Hoiah Holy Cross
- Linden Lane
- HC Varsity Song
- Mamie Reilly (which originated, I think, as a drinking song not specifically associated with HC)
- Chu Chu (the first part of the HC Fight Song the Marching/Pep Band plays at games)

[EmeryZach]

UMass Amherst, “When Twilight Shadows Deepen”

Listen to Twilight Shadows. (http://www.umass.edu/commencement/2001/gallery/realAudio/twilight_shadows.ram)


When twilight shadows deepen
and the study hour draws nigh,
When shades of night are falling
and the evening breezes sigh,
'Tis then we love to gather
'Neath the pale moon's sil'very spell.
And lift our hearts and voices,
in the song we love so well.

Chorus:
Sons of old Massachusetts,
Devoted daughters true:
Baystate, ol' Baystate,
We'll give our best to you.
Thee, our Alma Mater,
We'll cherish for all time.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Massachusetts, yours and mine.

– Fred D. Griggs (Class of 1913)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PXLNPhP_8k

[KiddBrewer]

Cherished Vision

Cherished Vision of the Southland
Alma Mater in the Hills
Let us point our minds to wisdom
Til the truth our spirit thrills
Appalachian Alma Mater, through our heart the joy and pride
Lead us ever, lead us onward
Vanguard of the heroes' side


i think i've noticed a few more people catching on and remembering some of the words. i, however, am not one of those people......it's hard to focus through people's loud mumbling. but, i'm proud to say, i can remember "Alma Mater in the Hills" and "Lead us ever, lead us onward"!xcoolx

[UR Spider]

Really surprised that I couldn't find it online some place, but the first verse and the chorus goes something like this (emphasis on like )

Amid the pines and Rolling hills
Stand the halls we cheer
Hallowed place our memory fills
alma mater dear

hail to thee, hail to thee
hail to red and blue