[4] Conley has declined to elaborate on the meaning of the lyrics, and according to author Michael Azerrad, was "typically evasive when asked if the song was angry.

'"[7] "Academy Fight Song" was released as a single in June 1980[7] by Ace of Hearts Records with "Max Ernst" as the B-side.

"Academy Fight Song" received significant airplay on Boston's WBCN (FM) and sold out its initial pressing of 7,500 copies within weeks.

"[8] George Gimarc wrote in Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982 that Mission of Burma were "on their way to becoming a Boston legend with their single 'Academy Fight Song' and 'Max Ernst'.

"[5] In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 64 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time", describing it as "a blast of guitar rage, full of punk menace, but without any posturing.