Pitt Victory Song
Encyclopedia
The Pitt Victory Song, one of the most popular and widely used fight song
s of the University of Pittsburgh
, is often played in conjunction with Hail to Pitt
and the Panther Song. Few people know the rarely heard first portion of the song, before the chorus. Lyrics were by G. Norman Reis (Col.
1916) and Louis M. Fushan (Econ.
1923). Music was by Benjamin Levant (Col.
1919, Med.
1921). The song debuted in the Cap and Gown Club's
1938 musical production entitled Pickets, Please! The most common cheer that is used during Pitt-related events and athletic contests is "Let's go Pitt!", which while perhaps derived from the song's lyrics, is often cheered even in absence of the song or music.
conducted a recording of a collection of songs entitled Songs of the University of Pittsburgh that featured Walter Scheff, Ralph Nyland, and Michael Stewart
. Released on two 78-rpm discs by Republic records, the album featured the "Pitt Victory Song", as well as "Hail to Pitt
", the "The Panther", and the "Pitt Alma Mater
". Various compilations by the Pitt Band and Pitt Men's Glee Club have also been produced that have included the "Victory Song". Around the 1952-1953 school year, the Pitt Band and the Pitt Men's Glee Club collaborated to release a compilation songs entitled Songs of Pitt on RCA Victor Records. More recent compilations include Pitt Spirit released on audio cassette in 1989, Proudly Pittsburgh in 1997, and in the late 2000s Pitt Pride! and Panther Fans...Are You Ready? on compact disc
. The "Victory Song" is also included on Gameday Faves: Classic College Fight Songs Volume 8. the "Victory Song" is available for purchase in a variety of formats including compact discs, MP3
s, and ringtones.
The "Victory Song" has been a part of various compilations including a collection entitled Songs of the University of Pittsburgh in 1929 by the Thornton W. Allen Company of New York, as well as in Young's Everybody's favorite songs of the American colleges published in 1938.
at the time of its writing.
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!
(repeat Chorus)
Some printings of the lyrics record the version "It may be tough, The going rough, But always fighting fair" - which reverses the order of the words "rough" and "tough" seen in the currently used lyrics above. In addition, supporters sometimes sing the bridge as:
[Da da da da da-da] Let's Go Pitt!
[Da da da da da-da] Let's Go Pitt!
P-I-T-T, Let's Go Pitt!
has been with the Penn State Nittany Lions, especially in football. During the 1970s and 1980s, the rivalry was especially intense, with the two schools' 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 with the 2001–2002 school year, the university administration, without announcement, mandated 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. The altered version without the final bridge remains the version played by the Pitt Band to this day. However, the bridge is still played as part of the Victory Chorale.
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,..."
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
s of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, is often played in conjunction with Hail to Pitt
Hail to Pitt
"Hail to Pitt" is the most traditional fight song of the University of Pittsburgh, which is commonly referred to as Pitt. The saying "Hail to Pitt!" is also the most traditional and commonly used slogan of the University of Pittsburgh and its athletics teams. The slogan is frequently used in...
and the Panther Song. Few people know the rarely heard first portion of the song, before the chorus. Lyrics were by G. Norman Reis (Col.
University of Pittsburgh School of Arts and Sciences
The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences is one of the 17 schools and colleges of University of Pittsburgh located in Pittsburgh, PA...
1916) and Louis M. Fushan (Econ.
University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration
The College of Business Administration is one of the 17 schools of University of Pittsburgh located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is home to the undergraduate business education at the university and administration of the college is overseen by the Joseph M...
1923). Music was by Benjamin Levant (Col.
University of Pittsburgh School of Arts and Sciences
The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences is one of the 17 schools and colleges of University of Pittsburgh located in Pittsburgh, PA...
1919, Med.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is a medical school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The School of Medicine is also known as Pitt Med, and is ranked as a “top medical school” by U.S. News & World Report in the publication's categories of research and primary care...
1921). The song debuted in the Cap and Gown Club's
University of Pittsburgh Repertory Theatre
The University of Pittsburgh Repertory Theatre, or Pitt Rep, is the flagship theatre company for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Theatre Arts. Pitt Rep features students on stage with professional actors and teaching artists staging public performances of classic masterpieces,...
1938 musical production entitled Pickets, Please! The most common cheer that is used during Pitt-related events and athletic contests is "Let's go Pitt!", which while perhaps derived from the song's lyrics, is often cheered even in absence of the song or music.
Recordings
During the 1940s Joseph WoodJoseph R. Wood
Joseph Wood was an American composer and music educator.-Biography:Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wood attended Bucknell University from 1932-1934. Afterwords, he began his formal music training at the Juilliard Institute of Musical Arts where he received a diploma in piano performance in 1936...
conducted a recording of a collection of songs entitled Songs of the University of Pittsburgh that featured Walter Scheff, Ralph Nyland, and Michael Stewart
Michael Stewart (musician)
Michael “Mike” Stewart was the guitarist for We Five. He was also the brother of John Stewart , a one-time member of The Kingston Trio and later a very successful singer/songwriter, and the father of Jamie Stewart, frontman of popular avant-garde group Xiu Xiu...
. Released on two 78-rpm discs by Republic records, the album featured the "Pitt Victory Song", as well as "Hail to Pitt
Hail to Pitt
"Hail to Pitt" is the most traditional fight song of the University of Pittsburgh, which is commonly referred to as Pitt. The saying "Hail to Pitt!" is also the most traditional and commonly used slogan of the University of Pittsburgh and its athletics teams. The slogan is frequently used in...
", the "The Panther", and the "Pitt Alma Mater
University of Pittsburgh Alma Mater
The Alma mater of the University of Pittsburgh was adopted soon after the University changed its name in 1908 from the Western University of Pennsylvania to its current moniker. Lyrics were written by George M. P. Baird, class of 1909 and were set to the tune of what was then the Austrian National...
". Various compilations by the Pitt Band and Pitt Men's Glee Club have also been produced that have included the "Victory Song". Around the 1952-1953 school year, the Pitt Band and the Pitt Men's Glee Club collaborated to release a compilation songs entitled Songs of Pitt on RCA Victor Records. More recent compilations include Pitt Spirit released on audio cassette in 1989, Proudly Pittsburgh in 1997, and in the late 2000s Pitt Pride! and Panther Fans...Are You Ready? on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. The "Victory Song" is also included on Gameday Faves: Classic College Fight Songs Volume 8. the "Victory Song" is available for purchase in a variety of formats including compact discs, MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
s, and ringtones.
The "Victory Song" has been a part of various compilations including a collection entitled Songs of the University of Pittsburgh in 1929 by the Thornton W. Allen Company of New York, as well as in Young's Everybody's favorite songs of the American colleges published in 1938.
Lyrics
The following are the lyrics currently used by the Pitt Band. The lyrics specifically reference and focuses on football. This reinforces the attention on, and popularity of, the university's football teamPittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
at the time of its writing.
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!
(repeat Chorus)
Some printings of the lyrics record the version "It may be tough, The going rough, But always fighting fair" - which reverses the order of the words "rough" and "tough" seen in the currently used lyrics above. In addition, supporters sometimes sing the bridge as:
P-I-T-T, Let's Go Pitt!
Controversy with unofficial lyrics
For most of the history of Pittsburgh Panthers athletic programs, a major rivalryPennsylvania Classic
The Pitt–Penn State football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by the Pittsburgh Panthers football team of the University of Pittsburgh and the Penn State Nittany Lions football team of Pennsylvania State University...
has been with the Penn State Nittany Lions, especially in football. During the 1970s and 1980s, the rivalry was especially intense, with the two schools' football teams often competing for the national championship
Mythical National Championship
A mythical national championship is a colloquial term used to question the validity of national championship recognition that is not explicitly competitive...
along with state
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
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 with the 2001–2002 school year, the university administration, without announcement, mandated 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. The altered version without the final bridge remains the version played by the Pitt Band to this day. However, the bridge is still played as part of the Victory Chorale.
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,..."
See also
- Hail to PittHail to Pitt"Hail to Pitt" is the most traditional fight song of the University of Pittsburgh, which is commonly referred to as Pitt. The saying "Hail to Pitt!" is also the most traditional and commonly used slogan of the University of Pittsburgh and its athletics teams. The slogan is frequently used in...
- University of Pittsburgh Alma MaterUniversity of Pittsburgh Alma MaterThe Alma mater of the University of Pittsburgh was adopted soon after the University changed its name in 1908 from the Western University of Pennsylvania to its current moniker. Lyrics were written by George M. P. Baird, class of 1909 and were set to the tune of what was then the Austrian National...
- Pitt Band
- Pitt Athletics
- Pitt footballPittsburgh Panthers footballPittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
- Pitt basketballPittsburgh Panthers men's basketballPittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in...
- University of PittsburghUniversity of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...