041 - Hail, Dear Old Rensselaer

About the song

Hail, Dear Old Rensselaer was written by A. Olin Niles. This is our fight song.

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 A. Olin Niles:

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 break-strain and to Da Capo. This is very rarely done more than once, and then only for good reason. Jim Cronen once played the break-strain 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 break-strain, is used after goals in hockey or after scores in football.

The long form of Hail, with the break-strain, 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

Although Hail may officially have a catalog number, it is never used. The song is simply known as Hail.

To be completed.