Yale Fight Songs

While we are the band and not the Glee Club, most of us do know the lyrics to Yale’s various fight songs and will sing them at the top of our collective lungs when they’re not being used to play our instruments. Sometimes we like to sing and play at the same time for an added challenge. Some sections are better than others at this.  

“Bulldog” is considered to be the Yale Fight Song, the one we play after touchdowns during a football game.  “Down The Field” is played at the end of every Yale athletic event, win or lose.  “Bright College Years” is our tear-jerking alma mater.

“Bulldog” (MP3, 1.23 mb)

Words and music by Cole Porter, ‘13

Bulldog!  Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Eli Yale
Bulldog!  Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Our team can never fail

When the sons of Eli
Break through the line
That is the sign we hail
Bulldog!  Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Eli Yale!

“Down the Field” (MP3, 1.2 mb)

Words by C.W. O’Conner, 1904 Law
Music by Stanleigh P. Friedman, 1905

March, march on down the field
Fighting for Eli
Break through that crimson line
Their strength to defy
We’ll give a long cheer for Eli’s men
We’re here to win again
hahvahd’s team may fight to the end
But YALE!  WILL!  WIN!

“Bright College Years”

Words by H. S. Durand, 1881
Music by Carl Wilhelm

Bright college years with pleasure rife
The shortest, gladdest years of life
How swiftly are ye gliding by
O why does time so quickly fly
The seasons come, the seasons go
The earth is green or white with snow
But time and change shall not avail
To break the friendships formed at Yale

In after years should trouble rise
To cloud the blue of sunny skies
How bright will seem through mem’ry’s haze
Those happy golden bygone days
O let us strive that ever we
May let these words our watch cry be
Where e’er upon life’s sea we sail:
“For God, for country, and for Yale!”

“Here’s to Good Old Yale” 

Words and music by Charles Ives

“Boola Boola”

Words and music by Alan Hirsch, 1901

Boola boola, boola boola
Boola boola, boola boola
When we rough house poor old hahvahd
They will holler, “Boola boo”
Oh Yale, Eli Yale!  Oh Yale, Eli Yale!
Oh Yale, Eli Yale!  Oh Yale, Eli Yale!

“Goodnight, Poor hahvahd”

Words and music by Douglas S. Moore, ‘15

Goodnight, poor hahvahd
hahvahd, goodnight
Oh, we’ve got your number
You’re high as a kite
Oh, goodnight, poor hahvahd
You’re tucked in tight
When the big blue
Team gets after you
hahvahd, goodnight!

“Bingo”

Words and music by Cole Porter, ‘13

Bingo!  Bingo!
Bingo, bingo, bingo!  That’s the lingo.  
Eli is bound to win,
There’s to be a victory,
So watch the team begin.
Bingo!  Bingo!
hahvahd’s team cannot prevail.
Fight!  Fight!
Fight with all your might,
For Bingo, Bingo, Eli Yale!