Songs of Syracuse Introduction
Collective singing has been a tradition at Syracuse University since its opening, when students and faculty regularly gathered together at Chapel to sing hymns. Beyond Chapel, student groups formed to sing and strengthen community bonds. The first, the Men’s Glee Club, was established in 1873.Alma Mater
“Flag we love! Orange!” wrote Junius Stevens, Class of 1895, and author of the Alma Mater of Syracuse University. The Alma Mater was first sung in public on March 15, 1893, by the University Glee and Banjo Club in a concert at the Wieting Opera House in Syracuse. In the spring of 1986, the line “May thy sons be leal and loyal” was changed to “Loyal be thy sons and daughters” to be more inclusive and to reflect that Syracuse University has always been coeducational. Members of the University community uphold a special tradition whenever they sing the Alma Mater. With those lyrics, they proudly embrace the past and strengthen the University’s identity for future generations of the Orange family.Singers and Songs
Gradually there emerged songs about Syracuse itself, celebrating and reinforcing University values such as community, loyalty, athletic excellence, and spirit. Throughout Syracuse’s history, students and alumni have sung of their affection for the University, in solidarity with a campus group, to express their faith, and to call sports teams to action.The first Step-Singing competition was held in the spring of 1926. Sponsored by Eta Pi Upsilon, the senior women’s honorary society, and music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota, it became a tradition for women students on the steps of Hendricks Chapel during Spring Weekend.
Founded in 1977, the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble is one of many student singing groups on campus today.
Audio Selections
Alma Mater (from “Syracuse Sings”)
Where the vale of Onondaga meets the eastern sky,
Proudly stands our Alma Mater on her hilltop high.
Flag we love, Orange, float for aye, Old Syracuse, o’er thee!
May thy sons be leal and loyal to thy memory.
When the ev’ning twilight deepens and the shadows fall,
Lingers long the golden sunbeam on thy western wall.
Flag we love, Orange, float for aye, Old Syracuse, o’er thee!
May thy sons be leal and loyal to thy memory.
When the shades of life shall gather, dark the heart may be,
Still the ray of youth and love shall linger long o’er thee.
Flag we love, Orange, float for aye, Old Syracuse, o’er thee!
May thy sons be leal and loyal to thy memory.
Oh Syracuse (from “Syracuse Sings”)
Oh, Syracuse! May thy golden star
Ever ascend to the heav’ns blue afar,
Guiding us on to our destiny;
Dear Syracuse! Our heart beat for thee.
Oh, Syracuse! Thro’ our college days,
Ever to thee, we will sing all our praise;
And in our hearts with a glad refrain,
Oh, Syracuse! We praise thee again.
Oh, Syracuse! Alma Mater dear,
Honor is thine and thy sons all revere
Thy memory and thy spread of fame;
Oh, Syracuse! Noble is thy name.
Bill Orange (from “Songs of Syracuse”)
Bill Orange is upon the sidelines,
With megaphone and flag in hand.
He leads the crows to cheer like demons,
All up and down the old grandstand;
And as the ball is moving goal-ward,
Each yard that’s gained he’s marking well.
It’s worthwhile to play for old Bill Orange,
For win or lose you’ll always hear him yell:
Chorus:
Get in the game to win, boys, ev’ry blessed mother’s son of you.
Stand firm along the line, boys, watch the ball, this time it’s going through.
Last night the sun set orange, omen, ever sure and true.
Get in the game and win, boys, Old Syracuse, she calls to you
And when the game is nearly over,
The team is tired with the play.
Bill’s voice rings out in clearest clarion,
Above the tumult of the fray;
“Hush! Let the quarter give the signal.
The fullback plunges at right guard
They are off come join me in a yell,
Now to win we only need just one more yard!”
The Night Song (from “Syracuse Sings”)
Syracuse, Alma Mater, Glorious against the night!
Clouds, silver, float above thy highest towers,
Pierc’d by the moon’s clear light;
Thy honored name is spread o’er the heavens,
Spent by the myriad starts, triumphant, enthron’d.
Onondaga Valley mirrors thy walls and high spires;
Syracuse Alma Mater, Good-night, good-night.
Down The Field (from “Syracuse Sings”)
Out upon the gridiron stands old Syracuse,
Warriors clad in orange and in blue,
Fighting for the fame of Alma Mater.
Soon those Crouse chimes will be ringing,
Soon you’ll hear those fellows singing.
Onondaga’s braves are out to win today,
The sons of Syracuse are ready for the fray,
The line holds like a wall and now the Orange has the ball,
So ready for that old long yell. Rah! Rah! Rah!
(Chorus)
Down, down the field goes old Syracuse,
Just see those backs hit the line and go thru’;
Down, down the field they go marching,
Fighting for the Orange staunch and true.
Rah! Rah! Rah! Vict’ry’s in sight for old Syracuse,
Each loyal son knows she ne’er more will lose,
For we’ll fight, yes, we’ll fight, and with all our might
For the glory of old Syracuse.