Hail to Pitt

In this atmosphere, an abundance of music and chants extolling the newly renamed university appeared throughout student productions and publications.

While some have faded into obscurity, among the most popular and pervasive of music and slogans, including "Hail to Pitt" and the "Alma Mater", were derived from the efforts of these students who were among the first to have "University of Pittsburgh" printed on their diplomas.

[6][7] The first performance of this song was in a production of the Cap and Gown Club, a student musical theatre company, titled Here and There in the spring of 1910.

[11] However, by the 1930s, the song's popularity led to issues with its use on radio broadcasts of games involving the school's successful football team.

It is believed that "Hail to Pitt" was the first college song to be broadcast on the radio when KDKA used it when airing its first football game.

The performance of "Hail to Pitt" appeared in Part 1 (Side A) of the 1932 Victor Records release of "Collegiate Melody", which remains the Waring's Pennsylvanians best known song.

[15] "Hail to Pitt" was also performed by Tommy Dorsey as part of his broadcast from Meadowbrook Ballroom in Cedar Grove, New Jersey on February 24, 1940, that featured Frank Sinatra among others.

[26] The sheet music for "Hail to Pitt" has undergone various publications and has appeared in a multiple music compilations including a collection titled Songs of the University of Pittsburgh in 1929 by the Thornton W. Allen Company of New York,[18] as well as more recently in Studwell and Schueneman's College Fight Songs published in 1998.

The gold and blue shall wave forever On high through fair and stormy weather; We'll sing her praises far and wide Until the end of time!

Often during sporting events, pep rallies, and various alumni and student functions, only the chorus is frequently played by the Pitt Band.

In some instances, slight differences can be found in the modern usage of the lyrics, including the replacement of the pronoun "her" when referring to the university with "our".

[40] A change in the lyrics was instituted on October 1, 1954, in an effort to support the city's "smoke control program" by eliminating the use of the term "smokeytown".

The lyric was first sung by members of the Pitt Men's Glee Club during a ceremony attended by the city's mayor, David L. Lawrence, on the Bigelow Boulevard porch of the Cathedral of Learning during a pep rally for that season's football home opener.

'til the victory is won, The Gold and Blue shall wave forever On high, through fair and stormy weather, We'll sing her praises far and wide Until the end of time; Hoop-hurray!

Hoop-hurray for dear old Uni, Give her a grand old Allegheny-genac-genac-genac We'll wave and cheer for many a year And sing her songs out loud and clear, For our University.

The melodies of these four songs, if not the lyrics, are familiar to most fans, faculty, staff, and alumni of the university and, having been ingrained into the school's culture over the years, have become the primary musical tradition at Pitt.

[46][47] One of the earlier printings of "The Panther" was with a collection titled Songs of the University of Pittsburgh in 1929 by the Thornton W. Allen Company of New York.

Released on two 78-rpm discs by Republic records, the album featured "The Panther", as well as "Hail to Pitt", the "Victory Song", and the "Alma Mater".

[18] "The Panther" also appears with "Hail to Pitt" on Gameday Faves: Classic College Fight Songs Volume 10.

Oh, when the Panther screams, you know the battle's just begun — And if you don't look out, he'll surely get you on the run For Pittsburgh's Glory, And the honor of our University!

Oh, if the Panther screams it means a battle just begun, And if you don't watch out he'll get you on the run, For Pittsburgh's glory, And the honor of our University.

[47] [49] The "Victory Song" was originally created to solve the issue of the university not owning the copyright to "Hail to Pitt" which prevented the school from granting permission for its use during football radio broadcasts.

One such song is "The Pitt Panther" whose music was written by Louis J. Panella in 1922 and whose lyrics were penned by Howard E. Reppert, class of 1923.

[53] Come, brothers, sing the old song again, Our paean to Alma Mater, We who have followed Her beacon light And marched 'neath Her banner fair, Sing of Her fame in the days gone by And the glory the years have brought Her; Her colors we wear, Her honors we share, Then sing till the winds reply; Here's to our University, Here's to Her Gold and Blue, Here's to Alumni and Faculty, Here's to Her Students true, Here's to Her fame in years to come, Bright may Her laurels be, Here's to Old Pittsburgh the glorious, Here's to old U. of P. Our Old Pittsburgh, dear Old Pittsburgh, With love that never tires Thy loyal sons in homage stand About Thine altar fires; Though in the strife of after life Far from Thy shrine we be, Our loyal hearts will ever burn With love, dear Pitt, for Thee, Our loyal hearts will ever burn With love, dear Pitt, for Thee.

[54] The lyrics of this fight song were written by Carl F. Ohlinger (Col. 1910) with music by Harriette Slattery (Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind, 1904).

One could speculate that this song could have been in existence prior to the 1908 name change as the verses referring to "Pitt" could easily be exchanged with "Wup" or "W.U.P."

Alle-genee-genac-genac, Alle-genee-genac-genac, Hoorah-Hoorah-Pitt, That's Old Alleghenee, Whenever, wherever, Pitt men get together, To honor the School they revere, Their voices ring strong in the old college song, And boom out the old college cheer; 'Til raw throats rebelling prevent further yelling, And music in growls dies away; Yet vocal affliction to Pitt's no restriction, And some one is then sure to say:

[59] Rise Brothers of Pitt, Alma Mater is calling, Leap strong in her strength to the fray, By the love of "Old Uni," whose colors we wear, We'll conquer the foemen to-day; We've faith in you boys, and whatever betides, To Pitt and our team we'll be true, On, boys, to the fray, while the foe in dismay, Hear us cheer for the Gold and the Blue.

Let the Freshman shout again, the Sophomore rejoice, Let the Junior pound his cane, the Senior make a noise, Let the graduates all sing, with one united voice, As we go marching through Uni.

Let the people join to swell the volume of the song, Ladies whom we love so well fill out the mighty throng, Let the wandering winds impel the minstrelsy along, As we go marching through Uni.