School songs

[DerMann]

Where I was at school, education could go hang - as long as a boy could hit a six, sing the school song very loud, and take a hot crumpet from behind without blubbing.

After spending an hour singing the school song in the rain as practise for a tradition called Chapel Sing, this quote came to mind.

Chapel sing takes place during the intermission of the homecoming football game. Freshmen (mostly from fraternities, but some independents) stand on the campus mall singing the school song ( Old Wabash, which happens to be the longest school song in the US) continuously for 45 as upperclassmen and members of the Sphinx Club (essentially a sort of pep club) attempt to cause them to slip up. In which case, the freshman is sent to the chapel, and is asked to sing certain parts of the song to see if they know the lyrics. If he gets it right, he goes back to the mall, if not, he gets a red W painted on his shirt (originally, a W was shaved into the sides of one's hair).

I attend Wabash College in Indiana, and was wondering if any other FLers have attended another college with a similar tradition. While "hazing" does take place during Chapel Sing, there is no physical harm or what not (especially not the hot crumpet in the rear, as mentioned by Lt. George). It's also worth mentioning that Wabash is one of the three(?) remaining all mens colleges in the United States, which is why traditions like this are still largely unchanged from the turn of the century (when the school became more popular).

It seems that other colleges, although founded in the same era (Wabash was founded in 1832), have lost a lot of their more traditional, well, traditions. Be it that they just have too many students or the tradition cannot be carried over to the fairer sex. When I visited Wabash during the last years of highschool, they always prided themselves as being all male and the deep traditions which still take place. Larger schools like the University of Chicago or University of Texas didn't even mention traditions or the like. These traditions and the fact that it's all male makes me feel like I'm at The Drones Club all the time, I really could not be happier.

I felt obligated to post something, filled with so much school spirit, and what not

Of course, I should mention the general consensus on campus is not that "education can go hang". Our academics and professors are amazing, with emphasis on small classes - all taught by full time professors, no teacher's assistants (my largest class is 32 people, and it's completely full). But our sports are (very) good, apparently.

 

[Real Swell Gal]

I didn't go to college but I still remember my high school fight song 20 years later.

 

[Nighthawk]

I go to Michigan Tech, and the MTU version of 'In Heaven There Is No Beer' is a semi-official (but tradition laden) school song. In fact, I can only remember the real school song being played once during my five years here.

We have lots of quirky traditions as well, the most revolving around Winter Carnival.

EDITED TO ADD: If you click on the link above and then on 'History', you'll note that my college sent hundreds of snowballs to Southwest Texas State so they could have a snowball fight in winter!

NH

 

[Fletch]

Im Himmel gibt's kein Bier,
Drum trinken wir es hier.
Denn sind wir nicht mehr hier,
Dann trinken die andern unser Bier.

In heaven there is no beer,
That's why we drink it here.
And when we're gone from here,
Our friends will be drinking all the beer.

(It translates more or less directly from German.)

Hear it slayed (sung and played) by the University of Iowa Pep Band

 

[Sunny]

It seems that other colleges, although founded in the same era (Wabash was founded in 1832), have lost a lot of their more traditional, well, traditions. Be it that they just have too many students or the tradition cannot be carried over to the fairer sex. When I visited Wabash during the last years of highschool, they always prided themselves as being all male and the deep traditions which still take place. Larger schools like the University of Chicago or University of Texas didn't even mention traditions or the like. These traditions and the fact that it's all male makes me feel like I'm at The Drones Club all the time, I really could not be happier.

Huzzah for school spirit! Since you mentioned t.u. I do have to put in a plug for Texas A&M. It's so tradition-laden that it's a standing joke that if you do anything twice, it's a tradition! True, it is also an enormous school, and no longer all-military nor all-male, as you say. But tradition is indeed very strong there. It was started as a land-grant college back in 1876. Most of the current traditions actually date from the 1920s or so - very vintage indeed!

 

[Mid-fogey]

Oh yes...

...we had a school song at El Cid. Really, every college has one -- even if the students don't know about it.

Of course having a screaming squad corporal making sure you learned it sure helped.

 

[The Wolf]

compliments of Tom Lehrer

Fight fiercely, Harvard, fight, fight, fight
Demonstrate to them our skill
Albeit they possess the might
Nonetheless we have the will
How we shall celebrate our victory
We shall invite the whole team up for tea, how jolly
Hurl that spheroid down the field
And fight, fight, fight

Fight fiercely, Harvard, Fight, fight, fight
Impress them with our prowess, do
Oh, fellows, do not let the Crimson down
Be of stout heart and true
Come on, chaps, fight for Harvard's glorious name
Won't it be peachy if we win the game, oh, goody
Let's try not to injure them
But fight, fight, fight - Let's not be rough, though
Fight, fight, fight - And do fight fiercely
Fight, fight, fight


As always, your faithful servent,
The Wolf

 

[LondonLuke]

On many a well remembered field, have Owen's fought and won,
At times we lose, but never yield, before the day is done
And as the years roll on and on,
And players bid goodbye,
Their comrades still in spirit don,
the mantle they've cast by.


Then strive with a will Owenians!
Success attend your play!
Never let your ardour cool,
For the honour of the school,
On Owens, to the fray!





And that's all I remember [huh]