041 - Hail, Dear Old Rensselaer
About the song
Hail, Dear Old Rensselaer was written by Charles S. Root '34. The verision which the band plays was arranged by A. Olin Niles. This is our fight song. It is played at the beginning and end of each period and whenever the team scores.
Although Hail may officially be catalogued as number 41, the number is never used. The song is simply known as Hail.
Lyrics
Occasionally there is a call for non-playing band members to sing, or for the RPI community to sing along to Hail. Here are the lyrics, as written by Charles S. Root '34:
- Hail, dear old Rensselaer, the college of our heart
- For dear old Rensselaer, we all must do our part (FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!)
- True to old Rensselaer, we'll always strive to be
- Now, dear old Rensselaer, hail to thee
- Hear the tramp, tramp, tramp of marching feet
- Hear the rat-tat-tat of drums that beat
- Hear the voices ringing loud and sweet
- Hear that mighty shout of...
- Hail, dear old Rensselaer, the college of our heart
- For dear old Rensselaer, we all must do our part (FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!)
- True to old Rensselaer, we'll always strive to be
- Now, dear old Rensselaer, hail to thee
Note that prior to the admittance of women to RPI in 1942, the refrain's 2nd and 3rd lines were sung as:
- For dear old Rensselaer, each man must do his part
- True sons of Rensselaer, we'll always strive to be
"Alternate" lyrics intended to be sung in a lazy manner, are:
- Blah, blah blah Rensselaer, blah blah blah blah blah blah
- Blah, blah blah Rensselaer, blah blah blah blah blah blah (FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!)
- Blah, blah blah Rensselaer, blah blah blah blah blah blah
- Blah, blah blah Rensselaer, blaaaah, blaaaah, blaaaaaaaaah.
Roadmap
The conductor begins by screaming, "Trumpets... One! Two!"
The song is played as written, with the exception that the conductor has discretion to instruct the band to play the sixteen measure breakstrain and to Da Capo. This is very rarely done more than once, and then only for good reason. Jim Cronen once played the breakstrain twice as music to cover up a skirmish that erupted on the ice after the clock had hit zero and the game was over.
The short form of Hail, without the breakstrain, is used after goals in hockey or after scores in football. During hockey games, the vocal cheer We Want More then immediately follows Hail.
The long form of Hail, with the breakstrain, is used when the hockey team comes onto or leaves the ice at the beginning or end of a period of play. It is also used when the band plays at miscellaneous school functions.
History
To be completed.
| America's Pep Band (album) | ||
| Previous track | Current track | Next track |
| N/A | 1. Hail (short) | 2. O Canada |
| America's Pep Band (album) | ||
| Previous track | Current track | Next track |
| 37. Alma Mater | 38. Hail (short) | 39. Rock Around the Clock/Hey Baby |
| Pep Band 2006 CD | ||
| Previous track | Current track | Next track |
| N/A | 1. Hail (long) | 2. O Canada |
| Pep Band 2006 CD | ||
| Previous track | Current track | Next track |
| 18. Are You Gonna Be My Girl | 19. Hail (short) | N/A |
| Live in Québec 2008 | ||
| Previous track | Current track | Next track |
| N/A | 1. Hail | 2. Gospel John |