Mighty Sound of The Southeast - Songs of USC - "Fight Songs"

"Fight Songs"

• OLD USC FIGHT SONG: Carolina Let Your Voices Ring: The fight song immediately predating the current and official fight song ("The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way Step to the Rear) was composed by Columbia native M. Carrere Salley (d. 1981).

In a letter dated May 16, 1969 to James Pritchard, Salley describes the origin of the piece, including some wry comments concerning the pecuniary reward for his efforts:

In about 1933, OΔK Omicron Delta Kappa fraternity sponsored a contest for a fight song for the University of South Carolina. The winner of this contest was to receive $500.00. I entered this contest and my song was declared the winning song. Later the award was reduced to $300.00. I was paid $50.00 and promised the rest as the pledges were collected. I didn't press for the remainder because I felt I was lucky to get fifty and would have entered the contest if there had been no reward offered.

Salley provides a bit more information on the later history of the song in a letter to Coach Paul Dietzel of 10 December 1968:

was first introduced by Dean George Olson, who at that time, was acting bandmaster. It wasn't until Mr. James Pritchard came to us as bandmaster that interest was revived in this slightly used song.

Pritchard elsewhere comments, "This fight song was rearranged by myself and used throughout my 10 years as Director of Bands (Fall 1959 though Spring 1969)." It was not used the following year when Ralph Wahl became director.

This fight song is now known by the title Old Fight Song. The lyrics are:

Carolina, let your voices sing to you we sing our praises high!

Ring out! Sing out! On to victory forever fight, we'll do or die.

Carolina, fight with all your might, let all unite in proud acclaim

Then battle on together, one and all forever, Fight! We've got to win the game, Rah! Rah! Rah!

Garnet and Black we raise, Gamecocks forever praise,

So, fight! For Carolina! Cheer! For Carolina!

Hail to our Carolina, we cheer forever, U-S-C!

• OFFICIAL USC FIGHT SONG: The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way (Step to the Rear)

USC band director James Pritchard obtained a band arrangement of the song Step to the Rear from the Broadway musical How Now, Dow Jones in 1968 and the marching band played the song at the first game of the 1968 season. It caught the ear of Coach Paul Dietzel who contacted Prichard about making it the official fight song of the University to replace the original fight song, Carolina Let Your Voices Ring. Dietzel wrote the lyrics for the song, but asked that he remain anonymous because knowledge that the football coach wrote the lyrics might render it unacceptable to the basketball program. The song was officially introduced on November 16, 1968 prior to the football game against Virginia Tech. The lyrics are:

Hey, Let's give a cheer, Carolina is here,

The Fighting Gamecocks lead the way.

Who gives a care, If the going gets tough,

And when it is rough, that's when the 'Cocks get going.

Hail to our colors of garnet and Black,

In Carolina pride have we.

So, Go Gamecocks Go - FIGHT!

Drive for the goal - FIGHT!

U-S-C will win today - GO COCKS!

So, let's give a cheer, Carolina is here.

The Fighting Gamecocks All The Way!

There are now several versions of this fight song suitable for different game events. A short version consisting of the last two lines of music follows any touchdown. After the extra point or following a field goal, the song is played in its entirety including the "CAROLINA" spell out between the two choruses. A different short version is used after every Gamecock first down.