The Red and the Blue
Encyclopedia
The Red and the Blue may refer to:
As University Archivist Francis James Dallett pointed out in 1983: "Eighteenth century American academic institutions simply did not have colors." This leaves one inclined to relegate the above explanations to the realm of local myth.
However, a resolution adopted by the university trustees on May 17, 1910, states:
"The colors shall be red and blue,...The colors [of the University of Pennsylvania] shall conform to the present standards used by the United States Government in its flags." Thus we have a rough idea of when the colors red and blue began being used, at least officially.
of the University of Pennsylvania, is so popular that it is often played in place of it at official university functions. (The actual alma mater of the university is Hail, Pennsylvania!
). Traditionally men would remove their hats for this song and wave them in time to the refrain. One still sees remnants of this custom when students wave their hands while singing the refrain.
The words were composed by Harry E. Westervelt (Class of 1898), and the music was composed by William John Goeckel (B.A.
1895, LL.B.
1896). Goeckel was known among his classmates as a musician and composer and was both a member and leader of the Penn Glee Club
during his time at Penn. The copyright was held by the Houston Club
. (However, the Houston Club was deemed unnecessary and replaced by a separate entity in 1929--the Houston Hall Board. Thus, the song appears to be in the public domain. The name Houston Club is still used as nickname for the student union.)
The original words are as follows:
Chorus:
- A nickname used collectively for the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
sports teamsPenn QuakersThe Penn Quakers are the athletic teams of the University of Pennsylvania. The school sponsors 27 varsity sports. The school has won three NCAA national championships in men's fencing and one in women's fencing.-Men's crew:-Football:...
. The name comes from the two school colors which are apparent on the university's coat-of-arms. This is not to be confused with the more or less "official" nickname used since the 1890s, the Quakers - A popular song sung by students of the University of Pennsylvania.
Origins of the nickname and use of colors
There are several legends relating how these colors came to be used by the University of Pennsylvania. Whether they are fact or fiction remains unknown.- Harvard and Yale. In the early days of the university there was a race among the students of Harvard, YaleYALERapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
, and Pennsylvania. The Harvard team wore their famous crimsonCrimsonCrimson is a strong, bright, deep red color. It is originally the color of the dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now also used as a generic term for those slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose; besides crimson itself, these colors include...
; Yale wore her traditional blue. When the Penn team was asked which colors would represent their team, they replied that they would be wearing the colors of the two teams they would soon beat. The Penn team won the race and those colors were used from then on. - George Washington's Clothes. It is rumored that George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
visited the university during one of his terms as President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. He is supposed to have arrived wearing a blue jacket and breechesBreechesBreeches are an item of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles...
with a red waistcoatWaistcoatA waistcoat or vest is a sleeveless upper-body garment worn over a dress shirt and necktie and below a coat as a part of most men's formal wear, and as the third piece of the three-piece male business suit.-Characteristics and use:...
. The next day, the students decked the university in these colors and donned red & blue themselves to honor the president. Afterward, it was decided to use these colors by the university. - Penn and Franklin's Coats-of-Arms. A more probable story is the one that follows. When the university was creating a seal and coat-of arms it decided to use elements from both Benjamin FranklinBenjamin FranklinDr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
's and William PennWilliam PennWilliam Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
's coats-of-arms—Franklin had helped to found the university and Penn had founded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Franklin's coat-of-arms contained the color red and Penn's a blue chevron. These colors then became the obvious choice to use.
As University Archivist Francis James Dallett pointed out in 1983: "Eighteenth century American academic institutions simply did not have colors." This leaves one inclined to relegate the above explanations to the realm of local myth.
However, a resolution adopted by the university trustees on May 17, 1910, states:
"The colors shall be red and blue,...The colors [of the University of Pennsylvania] shall conform to the present standards used by the United States Government in its flags." Thus we have a rough idea of when the colors red and blue began being used, at least officially.
Song
"The Red & Blue", while not the official alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
of the University of Pennsylvania, is so popular that it is often played in place of it at official university functions. (The actual alma mater of the university is Hail, Pennsylvania!
Hail, Pennsylvania!
"Hail, Pennsylvania!" written by Edgar M. Dilley , as a submission to an University of Pennsylvania alumni committee-sponsored contest to write a song to the tune of "God Save the Tsar!", the national anthem of Imperial Russia, by Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov. Edgar Dilley was awarded $25.Edgar M....
). Traditionally men would remove their hats for this song and wave them in time to the refrain. One still sees remnants of this custom when students wave their hands while singing the refrain.
The words were composed by Harry E. Westervelt (Class of 1898), and the music was composed by William John Goeckel (B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
1895, LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
1896). Goeckel was known among his classmates as a musician and composer and was both a member and leader of the Penn Glee Club
The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club
Founded in 1862, the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club is one of the oldest continually running glee clubs in the United States. The Club draws its singing members from the undergraduate and graduate men of the University of Pennsylvania; men and women from the Penn community are also called...
during his time at Penn. The copyright was held by the Houston Club
Houston Hall (University of Pennsylvania)
Houston Hall is the student union at the University of Pennsylvania, established in 1896. The idea of a student union was first established at Oxford University in 1823...
. (However, the Houston Club was deemed unnecessary and replaced by a separate entity in 1929--the Houston Hall Board. Thus, the song appears to be in the public domain. The name Houston Club is still used as nickname for the student union.)
The original words are as follows:
- Come, all ye loyal classmen now,
- In hall and campus through,
- Lift up your hearts and voices for
- The royal Red and Blue.
- Fair Harvard has her crimson,
- Old Yale her colors too,
- But for dear Pennsylvania,
- We wear the Red and Blue.
Chorus:
- Hurrah, Hurrah, Pennsylvania,
- Hurrah for the Red and the Blue;
- Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah Hurrah,
- Hurrah for the Red and the Blue.
- One color's in the blushing rose,
- The other tints the clouds,
- And when together both disclose,
- We're happy as the gods.
- We ask no other emblem,
- No other sign to view,
- We only ask to see and cheer
- Our colors Red and Blue.
- How often when on fields of sport,
- We've seen our boys go through,
- The very air was rent in twain
- With cheers for Red and Blue.
- We knew that vict'ry then was ours,
- All else we might eschew,
- If only we could wave and sing
- Our colors Red and Blue.
- And then upon the breast of her
- Whose heart beats warm and true,
- It is the dearest sight of all
- To see our Red and Blue.
- She wears them with a smile so bright,
- It wakes our hearts anew,
- To swear eternal loyalty,
- To dear old Red and Blue.
- And now thro' all the years to come,
- In midst of toil and care,
- We'll get new inspiration from
- The colors waving there.
- And when to all our college life
- We've said our last adieu,
- We'll never say adieu to thee,
- Our colors Red and Blue.