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Fight Song
Song associated with a sports team
In U.S. and Canadian sports, a fight song is a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team, and are also laden with history; in singing a fight song, fans feel part of a large, time-honored tradition.[1] Although the term "fight song" is primarily used in the United States, the use of fight songs is commonplace around the world, but they may also be referred to as team anthems, team songs or games songs in other countries, even such as Australia, Mexico and New Zealand. Fight songs differ from stadium anthems, used for similar purposes, in that they are usually written specifically for the purposes of the team, whereas stadium anthems are not.
Hundreds of colleges have fight songs, some of which are over a century old. The oldest collegiate fight song in the United States is Boston College's "For Boston", composed by T.J. Hurley in 1885.[2]
One of the oldest games songs in Australia is Melbourne Grammar's 'Play Together, Dark Blue Twenty', which is sung to the tune of 'The March of the Men of Harlech'.[3][4] It was composed by Ambrose John Wilson who was principal of the school from 1885-1893.[5] This is not to be confused with the school hymn 'Ora et Labora' which is now sung to the tune of 'Jerusalem'.[6]
Colleges whose names begin with "University of" or "College of" are listed by traditional name; for example, the University of Cincinnati is listed under C, not U.
The service academies are universally referred to in sports media by their associated branch of service. This means, for example, that the United States Military Academy is found at A, for Army.
The abbreviation "St.", standing for "Saint", is alphabetized as if it were spelled out. Some schools officially abbreviate the word (such as St. John's University in New York City), while others officially spell it out (such as Saint Louis University).
Schools which are normally known by a different contraction of their official name, or an acronym/initialism, are listed by their most common name. Examples:
The University of California, Berkeley is most often referred to by American sports media as either "California" or "Cal", meaning it can be found at C.
Other regional campuses, such as California State University, Fresno, are listed by their regional name, meaning the aforementioned school can be found under F.
United States Air Force Academy - The U.S. Air Force (informally known as The Air Force Song, and often incorrectly known as Wild Blue Yonder) is played after touchdowns while the Falcon Fight Song is played after PAT's.
Earlham College - "Fight Fight Inner Light"; "Battle Hymn of the Quakers"; "Theme of the Quaker Army"; "How Can We Keep from Scoring"; "Rah-Rah-Rio-Rem"; "Etc."
University of Maryland, College Park - Maryland Fight Song (for football - played after opposing team scores) and Maryland Victory Song (more commonly heard during games, for football - played after Maryland scores).
Princeton University - The Princeton Cannon Song, Princeton Forward March, Princeton Stadium Song, Goin' Back. Tiger Rag, Orange and the Black, Princeton University Band March, Princeton Jungle March
University of Southern California (USC) - Fight On (primary fight song), Conquest, Tribute to Troy, Cardinal and Gold, Song of Troy, Carry On, Marching Song of USC, Clear the Way for USC, Watch the Trojans Roll, Tusk, and USC Beloved Varsity
^The Melbourne Grammar games song comprises verses from the school's three main sports at the time, Australian rules football, cricket and rowing. For example the Australian rules verse is:
'Play together, Dark Blue Twenty,
Long and little marks in plenty;
Get your kick, let none prevent ye,
Make the leather roll.
Mark your men, keen effort straining,
On the ball and show your training;
Still though short the time remaining,
Get another goal.'
The chorus between each verse is:
'None our ranks shall sunder.
Who will shirk or blunder?
If all are true
To our Dark Blue,
Our foemen must go under.
Honour ye the old School's story,
Those who played and won before ye,
Bear the Dark Blue flag to glory,
Grammar to the fore.'
The cricket verse:
Bat with patience unremitting,
Yorker, shooter, break outwitting,
All the loose ones freely hitting,
That's the game to play.
Skill the bat and ball in wielding,
Smartness, judgement in the fielding,
Iron nerve and pluck unyielding,
Scarce can lose the day.
The rowing verse:
Row the race, boys swing together,
Sinews tough as cords of leather,
Strong, yet light upon the feather,
Lift her, make her go!
Get the catch at the beginning,
Churn the tide in eddies spinning,
Now a spurt, you gain! you're winning!
Melbourne Grammar, row!
A fourth verse with its own chorus was added in the early 20th century with imperial connotations:
'Some, in strife of sterner omen,
Faced the Empire's stubborn foemen;
Fought, as erst their sires - her yeomen;
Won the deathless name.
Praise ye these who stood for Britain,
These by foreign marksmen smitten;
Praise them, for their names are written
High in storied fame.
None their ranks could sunder;
Who could shirk or blunder?
So stood they true
To the old Dark Blue,
And all their foes went under.
Honour ye the old School's story,
Heroes who - her sons before ye -
Died or lived, but fought for glory,
Honoured evermore.'
While it is not officially discontinued, this addition is no longer sung.
^Eagle, Chester (1986). Play together, dark blue twenty. Melbourne: Trojan Press.