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The Victors
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Victors is the fight song of the University of Michigan (UM). It was composed by UM student Louis Elbel in 1898 following the last-minute football victory over the University of Chicago that clinched a league championship.[1] It was later declared by John Philip Sousa as "the greatest college fight song ever written."[2] Today, it is one of the most memorable and famous college fight songs.
An abbreviated version of the fight song, based on the final refrain, is played after the football team either scores or makes a big defensive play, such as an interception. Its full lyrics span several verses that run over two minutes long. The melody of the fight song is very similar to the trio section from The Spirit of Liberty March. This song is often referred to as "Hail to the Victors," which is not correct.
The phrase "champions of the west" is generally understood to be a reference to the fact that the sport of football was then gaining popularity west of the Appalachian Mountains and that, moreover, the Big Ten was widely known as the "Western Conference."
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The chorus of the song ("Hail! to the victors valiant," etc.) is played at all University of Michigan sports competitions, as well as many UM band events, first year student orientation and welcoming events, and graduation commencement ceremonies. When the song is played at any event, most fans stand and clap in rhythm until the chorus. During the chorus, fans clap and sing along and thrust their fists in the air at each repetition of the word "Hail!" This raising of the fist during the chorus has become a well-known sight indicative of UM athletics and school spirit. Recently, fans have started to yell the phrase "Go Blue!" at the conclusion of the chorus. However, during hockey games, it is more common to insert "Let's Go Blue!" in between the two stanzas of the chorus (after the line "...leaders and the best.") than it is to end with "Go Blue!" More recently, the hockey fans at Yost Ice Arena have begun adopting the football cheer version and ending in "Go Blue!" and omitting the aforementioned "Let's Go Blue!" in the middle of the song.
Since UM athletics and The Victors are both popular, the University of Michigan has also used the words to the fight song as an advertising tool. For example, commercials for the University of Michigan Health System have featured the words to the chorus of The Victors over pictures of children in hospital beds and doctors performing surgery. The musical accompaniment to these commercials is a light chamber orchestra/pop rendition of the fight song.
UM alumnus Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States, often had the Naval band play the fight song prior to state events instead of Hail to the Chief.[3] He also selected the song to be played during his December 2006 funeral procession at the U.S. Capitol.[4]
- Now for a cheer they are here, triumphant!
- Here they come with banners flying,
- In stalwart step they're nighing,
- With shouts of vict'ry crying,
- We hurrah, hurrah, we greet you now, Hail!
- Far we their praises sing
- For the glory and fame they've bro't us
- Loud let the bells them ring
- For here they come with banners flying
- Far we their praises tell
- For the glory and fame they've bro't us
- Loud let the bells them ring
- For here they come with banners flying
- Here they come, Hurrah!
- Hail! to the victors valiant
- Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
- Hail! Hail! to Michigan
- the leaders and best
- Hail! to the victors valiant
- Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
- Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
- the champions of the West!
- We cheer them again
- We cheer and cheer again
- For Michigan, we cheer for Michigan
- We cheer with might and main
- We cheer, cheer, cheer
- With might and main we cheer!
- Hail! to the victors valiant
- Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
- Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
- the champions of the West!
(generally sung at sporting events)
- Hail! to the victors valiant
- Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
- Hail! Hail! to Michigan
- the leaders and best
- Hail! to the victors valiant
- Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
- Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
- the champions of the West!
- ^ Shaker, Clay (September 21, 1998). "The Victors!" turns 100 years old. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
- ^ Michael Hondorp, Fabrikant Alexis (January 1, 2005). University of Michigan College Prowler Off the Record. College Prowler, Inc, 118. ISBN 1-59658-163-8.
- ^ Rozell, Mark J. (October 15, 1992). The Press and the Ford Presidency. University of Michigan Press, 38. ISBN 0-472-10350-4. .
- ^ Anne E. Kornblut, "Ford Arranged His Funeral to Reflect Himself and Drew in a Former Adversary," New York Times, December 29, 2006.
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