Pitt Victory Song
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The Pitt Victory Song is one of the most popular and widely used fight songs of the University of Pittsburgh. It is often played in conjunction with Hail to Pitt and the Panther Song. The first portion of the song, until the chorus, is rarely heard and relatively unknown. Lyrics were by G. Norman Reis and Louis M. Fushan. Music was by Benjamin Levant.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Lyrics
Verse:
Let's go Pitt! We're set for victory,
So lend a hand, strike up the band!
Let's go Pitt, we're making history
We'll never yield out on the field.
The whistle blows, we're on our toes
The ball is IN the air.
It may be rough the going tough
But always fighting fair so...
Chorus:
Fight on for dear old Pittsburgh
And for the glory of the game
Show our worthy foe that the Panther's on the go
Pitt must win today! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Cheer loyal sons of Pittsburgh
Cheer on to victory and fame
For the Blue and Gold shall conquer as of old
So fight, Pitt, fight!
Bridge:
Da da da da da-da Fight, Pitt, fight!
Da da da da da-da Fight, Pitt, fight!
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!
[edit] Alternative lyrics and controversy
For most of the history of Pittsburgh Panthers athletic programs, a major rivalry has been the Penn State Nittany Lions, especially in football. During the 1970s and 1980s, the rivalry was especially intense, with the two school's football teams often competing for the national championship along with state supremacy. During this period, words to the final portion of the song containing the bridge were substituted by students with the following lyrics:
Da da da da da-da Penn State Sucks!
Da da da da da-da Penn State Sucks!
P-E-N-N-S-T-Sucks!
The popularity of the use of these alternative lyrics carried over to when the fight song was used even during contests when Penn State was not the opponent, including other sporting events such as basketball. However some administrators at the university, including athletic director Steve Pederson, thought that the language was undignified, especially in light of the fact that many of the athletic contests where the chant could be heard were broadcast on regional and national television. Beginning for the 2001-2002 school year, the university administration, without announcement, mandated to the Pitt Band to stop playing the portion of the song with the objectionable student-substituted lyrics. The elimination of the verse was intended to clean up the sportsmanship of the song, especially in light of controversial suspension of the football series, and to center cheers strictly on Pitt, but it was not met without controversy.[2][3][4] The altered version without the final bridge remains the version played by the Pitt Band to this day. However, the bridge is sometimes played as part of the Victory Chorale.[5]
A 1938 printing of a song book containing college songs shows a slight variation in verse from "So lend a hand,..." that is described above to "So give a hand,..."[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] External Links
[edit] References
- ^ Ebay auction by The Irish Wake: University of Pittsburgh Song c1938 "Pitt Victory Song" (1938 printing) (2008-03-04). Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ Pitt removes 'Penn State sucks' cheer from repetoire
- ^ Time to re-establish tradition at Pitt - Sports
- ^ Letters to the editor - Opinions
- ^ Pitt Victory Song - New Student Guide
- ^ Ebay auction by The Irish Wake: University of Pittsburgh Song c1938 "Pitt Victory Song" (1938 printing) (2008-03-04). Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
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