Brown University Alma Mater

Brown University traditions hold that two songs are sung public events and gatherings related to the University. The traditional alma mater song was created in 1860 and a second school fight song was written in the 20th century.

Alma Mater

The "Alma Mater" was written by James Andrews DeWolf (Class of 1861) in 1860, who named it "Old Brown" and set it to the tune of "Araby's Daughter" (which was later known as "The Old Oaken Bucket"). cite web | url = http://dl.lib.brown.edu/pdfs/1172693698836875.pdf | title = The Man Behind the Song: James Andrew DeWolf and the Unlikely “Alma Mater” | accessdate = 2007-12-17 | author = Caroline C. Landau | date = 2006 ] The song was renamed "Alma Mater", after the incipit, in 1869. [Mitchell, Martha. (1993). " [http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/Databases/Encyclopedia/search.php?serial=A0170 Alma Mater] ." "Encyclopedia Brunoniana"] It is sung and played after varsity athletic victories and at formal events such as Convocation and Commencement.

::Alma Mater! we hail thee with loyal devotion,::And bring to thine altar our off'ring of praise;::Our hearts swell within us, with joyful emotion,::As the name of old Brown in loud chorus we raise.::The happiest moments of youth's fleeting hours,::We've passed, 'neath the shade of these time-honored walls,::And sorrows as transient as April's brief showers::Have clouded our life in Brunonia's halls.

::And when we depart from thy friendly protection,::And boldly launch out upon life's stormy main,::We'll oft look behind us, with grateful affection,::And live our bright college days over again.::When from youth we have journeyed to manhood's high station,::And hopeful young scions around us have grown,::We'll send them, with love and deep veneration,::As pilgrims devout, to the shrine of Old Brown.

::And when life's golden autumn with winter is blending,::And brows, now so radiant, are furrowed by care;::When the blightings of age on our heads are descending.::With no early friends all our sorrows to share; -::Oh! then, as in memory backward we wander,::And roam the long vista of past years adown,::On the scenes of our student life often we'll ponder,::And smile, as we murmur the name of Old Brown.

There is an unofficial final verse that is well known to many alumni, of uncertain origin but undeniable pathos:

::And when we are dead and are slowly decaying::And brows once so furrowed are rotting away::When worms in our bodily innards are playing::We won't care 'cause we'll be deceased anyway::We can't think of Brown when we're feed for the fodder::They can't ask for money when we're six feet down::We'll get our last vengeance on our alma mater::By changing our wills just to screw dear old Brown

Ever True To Brown

Brown's official fight song "Ever True To Brown" was written by Donald Jackson (Class of 1909). The song is played by the Brown Band at varsity athletic events. The unofficial version is alternately played by the Band as well.

References

External links

* [http://www.brown.edu/Students/Brown_Band/songs.shtml Brown Band Songs]