Syracuse University

su songs

alma mater

Where the vale of Onondaga
Meets the eastern sky
Proudly stands our Alma Mater
On her hilltop high.
Flag we love! Orange! Float for aye-
Old Syracuse, o'er thee,
Loyal be thy sons and daughters
To thy memory.

-Junius W. Stevens -From the 1993 Onondagan

junius w. stevens' recollections about SU's alma mater

The Syracuse University Alma Mater, under the title Song of Syracuse, was first sung in public on March 15, 1893, by the University Glee and Banjo Club as the last number in a concert at the Wieting Opera House.

Author Junius W. Stevens, Class of 1895, recalled "...while I was walking home across the city -- I lived in the northerly section -- an idea for the song came to me. I had often noticed how the setting sun lighted up the walls of Crouse College long after dusk had fallen over the city and the valley. As I walked through the empty streets the words of a song took shape in the my mind. By the time I reached home, the song was finished."

From the Syracuse University 1996-97 Student-Athlete Handbook, p. 105.

Please click Alma.wav to play a (6.5 MB) recording (*.wav format) of the Alma Mater performed by Theresa Bevilacqua, a Syracuse University student.

If you are using a WWW browser with a non-built-in audio capability, you will need external software.

bill orange

Bill Orange is upon the sidelines
With a megaphone and flag in hand.
He leads the crowd to cheer like demons,
All up and down the old grandstand;
And as the ball is moving goal-ward
Each yard that's gained he's marking well
It's worth while to play for Old Bill Orange
For win or lose you'll always hear him yell:
"Get in the game to win, boys,
Ev'ry blessed mother's son of you;
Stand firm along the line,boys,
Watch the ball, this time it's going through.
Last night the sun set orange,
Omen ever sure and true,
Get in the game and win , boys,
Old Syracuse, she calls to you!"

This song was written in the 1890's, before Archbold Stadium was built. All the cheerleaders were men because, it was thought, their voices were louder than women's voices.

the saltine warrior

In the days of old, when knights were bold
Every city had its warrior man.
In the days of new, when fights are few
You will view them from a big grandstand.
In our college town one has great renown
If the game of football he should play.
With his pig-skin ball he is cheered by all,
He's the Saltine Warrior of today.
Chorus: The Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And his weapon is a pigskin ball,
When on the field he takes a good, firm stand,
He's the hero of large and small.
He will rush toward the goal with might and main
His opponents all fight, but they fight in vain,
Because the Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And victorious over all.

This song was written for a student musical program in the early 1900's. It became a popular fight song.

down, down the field

Out upon the gridiron stand old Syracuse,
Warriors clad in orange and in blue,
Fighting for the fame of Alma Mater.
Soon those Crouse chimes will be ringing,
Soon you'll hear those fellows singing.
Onondaga's braves are out to win today,
The sons of Syracuse are ready for the fray,
The line holds like a wall and now the Orange has the ball,
So ready for that old long yell. Rah! Rah! Rah!
Chorus: Down, Down the field goes old Syracuse,
Just see those backs hit the line and go thro';
Down, down the field they go marching,
Fighting for the Orange staunch and true.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Vict'y's in sight for old Syr-a-cuse,
Each loyal son knows she ne'er more will lose,
For we'll fight, yes, we'll fight, and with all our might
For the glory of old Syracuse.

Syracuse University

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