The Cougar Song

Last updated

"The Cougar Song," often colloquially referred to as "The Cougar Fight Song,""The BYU Fight Song," or "Rise and Shout, The Cougars Are Out," is the school fight song of Brigham Young University. It is often played at BYU sporting events, especially at BYU football games. On these occasions it is traditional for the fans to remain seated, singing along with the verse, then literally "rise and shout" with the chorus and chant.

Contents

History

The song was composed by Clyde D. Sandgren, a 1932 BYU graduate. Clyde later served at BYU as general counsel, a vice president, and for four years as the Alumni Association president. He died in 1989 and left ownership of the song to his son, Clyde D. Sandgren, Jr. (Dee). Only Dee and BYU have the rights to the song. [1]

In 1947, Clyde Sandgren registered The Cougar Song with the U.S. Copyright Office, and renewed the work's copyright registration in 1975. The song was dedicated by its composer especially "To all BYU students who so valiantly served their country in World War II." [2]

The Cougar Song is not the only college song BYU has had in its history. In 1899 Annie Pike Greenwood wrote "The College Song," which for many years stood as the school's main song until The Cougar Song was written. Even afterwards, the song was still sung at alumni and other functions.

The lyrics, as sung at BYU events, were altered from the original version sometime in the 1990s due to pressure from women's groups on BYU campus. The lyric "stalwart men and true" was changed to "Loyal, strong, and true." [3] [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brigham Young University</span> Private university in Provo, Utah, United States

Brigham Young University is a private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Birthday to You</span> Birthday song

"Happy Birthday to You", also known as "Happy Birthday", is a song traditionally sung to celebrate a person's birthday. According to the 1998 Guinness World Records, it is the most recognized song in the English language, followed by "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". The song's base lyrics have been translated into at least 18 languages. The melody of "Happy Birthday to You" comes from the song "Good Morning to All", which has traditionally been attributed to American sisters Patty and Mildred J. Hill in 1893, although the claim that the sisters composed the tune is disputed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Contemporary worship music</span> Modern genre of music sung in many churches

Contemporary worship music (CWM), also known as praise and worship music, is a defined genre of Christian music used in contemporary worship. It has developed over the past 60 years and is stylistically similar to pop music. The songs are frequently referred to as "praise songs" or "worship songs" and are typically led by a "worship band" or "praise team", with either a guitarist or pianist leading. It has become a common genre of music sung in many churches, particularly in charismatic or non-denominational Protestant churches with some Roman Catholic congregations incorporating it into their mass as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Eyes of Texas</span> School spirit song

"The Eyes of Texas" is the school spirit song of the University of Texas at Austin. It is set to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad". Students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the university sing the song at Texas Longhorns sports games, before the fireworks and other events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech</span> Fight song of Georgia Institute of Technology

"(I'm a) Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" is the fight song of the Georgia Institute of Technology, better known as Georgia Tech. The composition is based on "Son of a Gambolier", composed by Charles Ives in 1895, the lyrics of which are based on an old English and Scottish drinking song of the same name. It first appeared in print in the 1908 Blueprint, Georgia Tech's yearbook. The song was later sung by the Georgia Tech Glee Club on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1953, and by Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev during the 1959 Kitchen Debate.

Bruin Warriors, also known as "Sons of Westwood" and "Big C", is a fight song of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The tune comes from Big C, a school fight song for the University of California, Berkeley. The UCLA Bruin Marching Band plays the song as part of their football pregame show as they move into the script UCLA formation. The song has been updated since 2016 with the new title "Bruin Warriors", and lyrics that include "daughters" as well as "sons".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYU TV</span> American television channel

BYU TV is a television channel, founded in 2000, which is owned and operated as a part of Brigham Young University (BYU). The channel, available through cable and satellite distributors in the United States, produces a number of original series and documentaries with emphases in comedy, history, lifestyle, music and drama. BYUtv also regularly broadcasts feature films, nature documentaries, acquired dramas and religious programs. Additionally, BYUtv Sports is the primary broadcaster of BYU Cougars athletics, producing more than 125 live sporting events in 2012 alone. The channel has won multiple regional Emmy Awards, a national Children's and Family Emmy Award, and several of its original series have been praised by national television critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Victors</span> Fight song of the University of Michigan

"The Victors" is the fight song of the University of Michigan. Michigan student Louis Elbel wrote the song in 1898 after the football team's victory over the University of Chicago, which clinched an undefeated season and the Western Conference championship.

The Notre Dame Victory March is the fight song for the University of Notre Dame.

"Victory for MSU", formerly "MSU Fight Song", is the official fight song of Michigan State University. It was created in early 1915, when MSU was known as Michigan Agricultural College (M.A.C.). An MSU cheerleader, Francis Irving Lankey, along with lyricist Arthur Sayles, created the song. With several changes noted below, the school has used the same song ever since. The MSU Fight Song is played at all university sporting events and is frequently sung by students and alumni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail to Old OSU</span>

"Hail to Old OSU" is the fight song of Oregon State University. It is extracted from a song written by Harold A. Wilkins in 1914 and is played mainly at sporting events like football and basketball games. The lyrics have been slightly altered since being written "to conform to a changing culture", changing to conform to new initials, and the use of a more gender-neutral version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn State Alma Mater</span> Song

The "Penn State Alma Mater" is the official alma mater of The Pennsylvania State University. The song was accepted by the university in 1901.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYU Cougars</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Brigham Young University

The BYU Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Brigham Young University (BYU), located in Provo, Utah. BYU fields 21 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) varsity athletic teams. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference for all sports except men's volleyball which is a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. They were a member of the West Coast Conference from 2011 to 2022. From 1999 to 2011 they were a member of the Mountain West Conference and before the formation of the MW, the Cougars competed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Mountain States Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference. BYU officially joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Are the Boys from Old Florida</span>

"We Are the Boys from Old Florida" is a song commonly played and sung during University of Florida (UF) sporting events, most notably at the end of the third quarter at football games by The Pride of the Sunshine, the school's marching band. It is very similar to other school songs sung by several other colleges and schools around the United States, and its origin and original composer is unknown. At Florida, it has been popular since the 1920s.

The history of Brigham Young University (BYU) begins in 1875, when the school was called Brigham Young Academy (BYA). The school did not reach university status until 1903, in a decision made by the school's board of trustees at the request of BYU president Benjamin Cluff. It became accredited during the tenure of Franklin S. Harris, under whom it gained national recognition as a university. A period of expansion after World War II caused the student body to grow many times in size, making BYU the largest private university of the time. The school's history is closely connected with its sponsor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Brown University traditions hold that two songs, "Alma Mater" and "Ever True to Brown", are sung at public events and gatherings related to the university. The traditional alma mater song, "Old Brown," was created in 1860 and "Ever True to Brown", the second school fight song, was written by Donald Jackson. The song is played by the Brown Band at major varsity athletic events and at formal events such as Convocation and Commencement. An unofficial version offers humorous alternative lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail to Pitt</span>

"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 promotional material, printed on merchandise and souvenirs. It was also the title of a 1982 history of Pitt athletics by author Jim O'Brien. The slogan is often used among alumni as a statement of affiliation, including as a closing signature in conversation or correspondence between alumni, and is sometime abbreviated as "HTP" or "H2P", the latter of which is a registered trademark of the university and is frequently used on official university signage and merchandise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hark the Sound</span>

"Hark the Sound" is the alma mater (song) of the University of North Carolina. It was written by William Starr Myers, a member of the UNC Glee Club at the time. It is sung at the end of athletic events and other university gatherings, and is one of many alma maters set to the music of "Annie Lisle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail to the Orange</span>

"Hail to the Orange" is the alma mater of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Its alternate version, "Hail to the Purple," is an official song of the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The song was written in 1910 by two students: Harold Vater Hill, credited with the music, and Howard Ruggles Green, credited with the lyrics.

References

  1. ↑ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Nation - Owner won't sell BYU fight song
  2. ↑ Cheer Anew for the BYU
  3. ↑ "Fact or fiction". Deseret News . October 7, 2004. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ "re: The changes to the fight song lyrics". CougarBoard. November 21, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Question #61788". 100 Hour Board. February 10, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.