The Eyes of Texas

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UT Students and Football players singing The Eyes of Texas after a win versus Nebraska

"The Eyes of Texas" is the alma mater of the University of Texas at Austin. It is set to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad." Students, faculty, and alumni of the University sing the song at Longhorn sports games and other events.

1 History
2 Lyrics
3 Appearances in film
4 Student organization
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] History

The song was written in 1903 by John Sinclair. The lyrics were intended to poke fun at University President Colonel Prather. Prather had attended Washington and Lee College, where Robert E. Lee would frequently tell his students "The eyes of the South are upon you." Prather was known for including in his speeches a similar admonition, "The Eyes of Texas are Upon You," meaning that the state of Texas was watching and expecting the students to go out and do great things. Prather enjoyed the song and promoted its usage. He died not long thereafter, and the song was played at his funeral. After this, the song achieved its complete dignity and meaning.^[1]

[edit] Lyrics

The eyes of Texas are upon you,

All the live long day.

The eyes of Texas are upon you,

You cannot get away.

Do not think you can escape them,

At night, or early in the morn'.

The eyes of Texas are upon you,

'Till Gabriel blows his horn!

[edit] Appearances in film

Roy Rogers starred in a 1948 film titled Eyes of Texas.^[2]
The song is played repeatedly in the 1956 movie Giant.^[3]
The song is on the soundtrack of Dimitri Tiomkin version of The Alamo, which was nominated for the Academy Awards of Best Music (Original Song) and for Best Music (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) in 1961.^[4]
Elvis Presley sings it as part of a medley with "The Yellow Rose of Texas" in Viva Las Vegas from 1963.
In Steven Spielberg's 1974 movie The Sugarland Express, as the slow-speed police chase comes into a small town thronged with supporters of the fugitive couple, the marching band is playing "The Eyes of Texas." The score was conducted by John Williams.

[edit] Student organization

The Eyes of Texas is a student organization on the UT campus. It is a service organization whose purpose is "to unselfishly serve the University of Texas at Austin." The organization awards the Eyes of Texas Excellence Awards to outstanding staff and faculty, the Margaret C. Berry Award for outstanding contributions to student life, and the Glen Maloney 40 Acres Award. The Eyes of Texas were first registered as a student organization on March 5, 1976 and are still active on the UT campus.^[5]