School songs

Columbia has a number of School songs. You probably don't know the words to most (or all) of them. That's OK. You have this page.

Alma Mater

In the United States "Alma Mater" is the term for a school song or hymn (it is also colloquially used as a general term for the school from which one graduated.) Columbia University's official Alma Mater is "Stand, Columbia." Some individual schools have their own songs, most notably Columbia College ("Sans Souci.")

The term "Alma Mater" literally means "nourishing mother". The motto (and original name) of the University of Bologna (the oldest continually operating university in the world) is Alma Mater Studiorum ("Nourishing Mother of Studies"). Of course, in the Columbia context, Alma Mater almost always refers to the Daniel Chester French sculpture that graces the steps to Low Library,

Stand, Columbia

Stand, Columbia is the official University alma mater. Written by Gilbert Oakley Ward (CC 1902) in 1904 to the tune of Haydn's Emperor Quartet, which also serves as the melody for the German national anthem (both with the old lyrics of "Deutschland über alles" and the present less jingoistic version beginning "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit"), the song is traditionally performed at University events such as the Baccalaureate Ceremony and University Commencement, as well as various alumni functions.

1. Mother, stay'd on rock eternal, Crown'd and set upon a height, Glorified by Light supernal In thy radiance we see light, Torch thy children's lamps to kindle, Beacon-star to cheer and guide, Stand, Columbia! Alma Mater Through the storms of Time abide! Stand, Columbia! Alma Mater Through the storms of Time abide!

2. Honor, love, and veneration Crown forevermore thy brow! Many a grateful generation Hail thee as we hail thee now! Till the lordly Hudson seaward Cease to roll his heaving tide, Stand, Columbia! Alma Mater Through the storms of Time abide! Stand, Columbia! Alma Mater Through the storms of Time abide!

• Music Score

• Listen here: Haydn's "Emperor" Quartet, II (ogg format)

• Watch here:

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Sans Souci

Sans Souci (french for "without cares" or "carefree") is the Columbia College Alma Mater, composed by Percy Fridenberg CC 1886. Fridenburg composed the song around 1888 while studying medicine in Germany, basing it on a drinking song (the first two verse's are Fridenburg translation of the german, and the third his original contribution to the song). The song was first published in the "Columbia College Song Book" in 1896 (giving it its original copyright date), and by accounts it became quite popular, serving as the de facto school song of the College as far as students were concerned. In January of 1948, noting crowds at basketball games seemed to lack a go-to college song to express their school pride (and noting that the semi-official "Alma Mater" - possibly a reference to the song composed for the Glee Club by its director Walter Henry Hall in 1922 - had failed to catch on with students), the Spectator recommended that "those who decide such matters" should enshrine "Sans Souci" as the official school song, as it was popular among students and was effectively "the" Columbia song in all but name. Spec would go on to note that Sans Souci was a "far warmer" and "far more pleasing to hear" song than the "un-singable" "Stand, Columbia." The following fall, Student Board took up the call, approving "Sans Souci" as the official school song, and calling on the Alumni Association of Columbia College and the College's Committee on Instruction to ratify the selection. Apparently, sometime between the end of 1948 and Class Day 1949 they did, and Class Day was graced with a performance of "Sans Souci" instead of "Stand, Columbia" for the first time. Coincidentally, 1949 also marked the adoption of another Columbia symbol, the University Shield.

Today "Sans Souci" is performed at Columbia College associated events, e.g., Class Day, alumni functions, the Alexander Hamilton Medal dinner, and the John Jay Awards for Distinguished Professional Achievement. The CUMB can be seen performing the song at the conclusion of each football game, with the football team gathered in front of them, and on Orgo Night, the performance traditionally ends with the underclassmen members of the band singing "Sans Souci" to the seniors, who stand together on the steps of Furnald Hall.

1. What if tomorrow bring Sorrow or anything Other than joy? What if't be wintry chill Rain, storm or summer's thrill? Tomorrow's the future still; This is today! Tomorrow's the future still; This is today.

2. Out on life's stormy seas All of us soon may be, Far, far away. Still hold your glasses high, Here's to youth while it's nigh; Though we tomorrow die, This is today! Though we tomorrow die, This is today.

3. One last toast e'er we part, Written on ev'ry heart, This motto stay Long may Columbia stand, Honored throughout the land, Our Alma Mater grand, Now and for ay! Our Alma Mater grand, Now and for ay.

• Music score

• Watch here:

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Fight Songs

Roar, Lion, Roar

Roar is Columbia's fight song and over time has become the song most closely associated with the school. When the Columbia University Alumni Federation offered up a prize for a new football song in 1923, Corey Ford CC '23 re-purposed a song from that years Varsity Show (which he co-wrote), and "concocted new words for the final chorus of the show and sent the entry in." Thus did "Bold, Buccaneers!" become "Roar, Lion Roar!" In addition to crediting Ford for the lyrics, songbooks credit Roy Webb CC 1910 and Morris Watkins CC 1924 for the melody.

Today the song is almost always performed without the first stanza. Note that while the song refers to a "Lion" in the singular, it has become fashionable for certain administrators (notably Dean James Valentini) to quote the opening lyrics in the plural ("Roar, Lions, Roar") when signing off to the Columbia community.

1. When the bold, teams of old Wore the Blue and White, Deeds of fame, made their name, Here at old Columbia. Nowadays we can praise Fighting teams again. Hear the lion roar in pride, While the men of Morningside Follow the Blue and White to Vict'ry...

2. Roar, Lion, Roar And wake the echoes of the Hudson Valley! Fight on to victory evermore, While the sons of Knickerbocker rally round Columbia! Columbia! Shouting her name forever! Roar, Lion, Roar For Alma Mater on the Hudson Shore!

• Music Score

• Listen here: "Roar, Lion Roar" • Instrumental Only Version

• Watch here:

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Who Owns New York?

Who Owns is a popular self-aggrandizing cheer. The cheer is actually derived from a song titled We are the Stuff which appears to have made its first appearance in print form in the 1904 "Columbia University Songs" book. "We are the Stuff" has three verses in the question and response format familiar to those who know "Who Owns", asking (and responding) in turn: "Oh, who are the stuff?" ("Why, we are the stuff!"); "Oh, who's going to win?" ("Why, we're going to win!"); and "Oh, who'll own New York" ("Why we'll own New York!"). While the lyrics of the current shortened version of the song are interpreted as a reference to Columbia's historic position as one of New York City's largest land owners, the original verses suggest that "owning New York" was possibly intended as another reference to who will win the game (and securing bragging rights), as opposed to a boastful promise to engage in a real estate buying spree at some undetermined point in the near future.

In addition to serving as a cheer, the CUMB uses "Who Owns'" five-note opening as a musical fanfare.

Oh, who owns New York?
Oh, who owns New York?
Oh, who owns New York the people say.
Why, we own New York!
Why, we own New York!
C-O-L-U-M-B-I-A!

• Music Score

• Watch here:

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Stand Up and Cheer

Stand up is a short cheer/song that the band will often play during breaks in action. The song was originally written for the University of Kansas in 1909, but has since been adapted as a fight song by a number of schools.

Stand up and cheer!
Stand up and cheer for old Columbia!
For today we raise
The Blue and White above the rest.
Our boys are fighting
And they are bound to win the fray.
We've got the team!
We've got the steam!
For this is old Columbia's day!

• Listen here: "Stand Up and Cheer" from Ohio Unversity

Alternate Lyrics

Many songs have amusing and/or lewd alternate lyrics, often created and perpetuated by the Columbia University Marching Band. These lyrics poke fun of other schools, as well as Columbia (and of course Barnard.) In accordance with band tradition, allegedly, alternative lyrics are never written down, but rather passed on as oral tradition. Of course from time to time some get printed anyway. They're typically reserved for the band bus and get busted out at the end of Orgo Night. Hang around bandies if you want to learn them.

Sometimes singing alternative lyrics can get you in a lot of trouble. In 2011 Columbia made national sports news when the Athletics Director banned the band from football games after they sang the alternative lyrics "We always lose, lose, lose; by a lot, and sometimes by a little" to the tune of "Roar" at the end of a game where the team fell to 0-9 on the season.

Defunct Songs of a Bygone Era

There are other Columbia songs that have faded into the mists of time.

Columbia Marching Song

In Fall of 1909, the Columbia Alumni Club of Illinois offered a prize of $100 for the composition of a new Columbia song. The April issue of Columbia Alumni News announced that the winner of $50 for the lyrics was Professor John Erskine CC 1900. In September, Frank Ward, organist of St Paul's Chapel, was awarded the other $50 for composing the winning melody to Erskine's song. The song has not been performed in recent memory.

I. When you're marching for Columbia, you had better march like men! And every mile you march for her you will wish were eight or ten; When you're marching for Columbia, your four years won't seem long, And then you'll wish you were back again to sing her marching song-- Chorus: Marching for Columbia, a royal road we tread! The heart is beating high, and the blood runs red, We're all young together, the best of life's ahead. When you march for Columbia!

II. Now the thunder of the city sets Columbia's heart athrill. Our home is on the battle-field--the battle's with us still! We keep the city's honor, we build the city's walls, And when she calls for fighting men, it's Columbia men she calls. Chorus: Marching for Columbia, a royal road we tread! The heart is beating high, and blood runs red, We're all young together, the best of life's ahead. When you march for Columbia!

III. They are sitting down and dreaming, are some folk we needn't name, Of their dead and gone forefathers, who gave them all their fame; But we've more and better fellows than we've ever had before, And we're marching toward to-morrow, that will give us plenty more. Chorus: Marching for Columbia, a royal road we tread! The heart is beating high, and the blood runs red, We're all young together, the best of life's ahead. When you march for Columbia!

Song Books

• Songs of Columbia (1877), 19th century college songbook, some original, some not, all predating the current classics.
• Columbia College Song Book, compiled and edited by William Ballou Donnell, and John Tempest Walker, Jr. (1896) [(Google eBook) (missing pgs 7-8)
• Columbia University Songs, 1st ed., compiled by William Ballou Donnell; Russell Pratt Hoyt; Leonard Gordon McAneny and Gilbert Oakley Ward, Boston: Oliver Ditson Co. (1904) [(Google eBook) (missing pgs. 1-2)
• Columbia University Songs, 2nd ed., (1918)
• Columbia University Songs, 3rd ed., New York: Alumni Federation of Columbia University (1924)

Recordings

• Columbia University Glee Club, 10" LP (1952)
• Columbia University Glee Club, Reunion 2010 Concert, CD (2010)

Pop Songs

These aren't really "Columbia" songs, but they do feature Columbia in some way or form.

Tom's Diner

Tom's Diner is an a cappella song written in 1982 by Suzanne Vega. It captures a dreary morning scene inside Tom's Restaurant.

Hey There Delilah

Hey There Delilah is a love song written for Columbia alum Delilah DiCrescenzo.

Campus

"Campus" is a song written by alternative band and Columbia alumni Vampire Weekend. It is somewhat of a love song, but mostly describes day-to-day life on campus for a hipster, with ironic lines like "spilled kefir on my keffiyeh".

See also

• Barnard College songs

External links

• Columbia University Marching Band
• Columbia Music & Arts Library | Roar, Lion, Roar: Columbia University Songs