Dynamite (Francis Craig song)
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Dynamite is the official fight song of Vanderbilt University, written by Francis Craig. It is played at football and basketball games, and at other times when a rousing salute to Vandy is desired.
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[edit] Francis Craig
Francis Craig was born in Dickson, Tennessee, but he made Nashville his home. Craig was a member of the Vanderbilt University Class of 1924. The popular composer and orchestra leader was known for such hits as Near You, which was recorded in 1947 and sold 35 million copies. Near You spent 17 weeks at #1, a record that stands to this day as the longest run at #1 in chart history.
Other Craig hits included:
- Beg Your Pardon
- Tennessee Tango
- Too Much Sugar for a Dime
- Don’t Make Me Sorry
In additin to these hits, Craig also gained international fame by helping to launch the careers of Snooky Lanson, James Melton, and Dinah Shore.
[edit] Writing the lyrics
It was at Vanderbilt that Craig formed his first band and debuted at a Sigma Nu dance. While he was an undergraduate at Vanderbilt, he composed the university’s official fight song -- Dynamite!.
Craig was a maestro at the piano and played for 25 years at the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville. His orchestra was the first studio band to broadcast at WSM. He was also musical director for WSM and originated the studio show, Sunday Down South.
The lyrics to Craig's ever-popular fight song are:
Dynamite! Dynamite, When Vandy starts to fight. Down the field with blood to yield, If need be save the shield. If vict'ry’s won, when battle’s done, Then Vandy’s name will rise in fame. But, win or lose, the fates will choose, And Vandy’s game will be the same: Dynamite! Dynamite, When Vandy starts to fight! V-A-N-D-Y! Vandy, Vandy, go, go, go!
[edit] Dynamite traditions
Though not a part of Dick's original lyrics, long-established custom dictates that "Vandy, Vandy, go, go, go!" is replaced with "Vandy, Vandy, oh hell yeah!".
The fight song is traditionally played when the team runs through the V before football games, when a touchdown is scored, or at the end of the game (win or lose) before the solemn playing of the Vanderbilt Alma Mater.
During basketball games, the fight song is played when the team runs out behind the Vanderbilt flag, shortened versions are played during some time-outs, and the whole song is played immediately after the game concludes (again, whether it is a Vanderbilt win or loss) before the traditional Alma Mater.
Recently, students have begun using the "V-U hand signal," discussed in the main Vanderbilt article, during the fight song while they spell "Vandy" and chant the end of the cheer.
[edit] Mr. Commodore and Dynamite
- See also: Vanderbilt Commodores football
Beginning in 2003, the Spirit of Gold Marching Band coordinated with Vanderbilt Cheerleading to develop "dynamite plunger" prop for Mr. Commodore, the costumed mascot of the University, to use while the band prepared to play the fight song in the University's football pre-game show.
Mr. Commodore would, accompaied by an announcer on the public address system, wheel out the jumbo-sized "plunger" and act mischieveous toward the opposing team and their fans until the announcer said, "It looks like Mr. Commodore's got -- yes! Iiiiiiiiiit's Dynamite!!!" The band would then play the fight song while the crowd cheered along.
[edit] Cheer for Old Vandy, the first fight song
Dynamite! is not the only fight song that has thrilled Vanderbilt friends and fans over the years. Another famous song that is still played by the Spirit of Gold Marching Band is Cheer for Old Vandy.
The lyrics are:
Let's give a cheer for ol' Vandy Cheer for the gold and black Cheer for the team when it wins, Cheer for them through thick and through thin! Let's give a cheer for ol' Vandy, Cheer for her ever more; Sons and daughters let's give a yell For the Comm - o - dores!
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Article on the origins of Vanderbilt's fight song
- Vanderbilt Cheerleading website on the fight song
