No. 44 - The Victors
The Victors is the ever-recognizible clamoring of horns and crashing of symbols that celebrates college football's most winningest program: The University of Michigan.
It's one of the most recognizible fight songs in college sports. It's also the backdrop to a rivalry that spans a century.
As Wikipedia describes:
First performed in public in 1899, "The Victors" did not catch on right away, and did not become Michigan's official fight song until many years later. At the time, the song "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" was considered to be the school song.
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, published seven months earlier by Tin Pan Alley composer George "Rosey" Rosenberg. This song is often referred to as "Hail to the Victors," which is not correct.
While rarely performed at length, the lyrics are:
- 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!
(Chorus)
- 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!
You can listen to it here.