On The Banks of The Old Raritan - Lyrics

Lyrics

While there are five verses to the song, typically only the first and last (fifth) verse are sung.

I.

My father sent me to old Rutgers,

And resolv'd that I should be a man (or a woman);

And so I settled down,

in that noisy college town,

On the banks of the old Raritan.

(Chorus)

On the banks of the old Raritan, my boys*,

where old Rutgers ever more shall stand,

For has she not stood since the time of the flood,

On the banks of the old Raritan.

II.

Her ardent spirit stirred and cheered me

From the day me college years began;

Gracious Alma Mater mine;

Learning's fair and honored shrine;

On the banks of the old Raritan.

(Chorus)

III.

I love her flaming far-flung banner

I love her triumphs proud to scan,

And I glory in her fame

That's immortalized her name.

On the banks of the old Raritan.

(Chorus)

IV.

My heart clings closer than the ivy

As life runs out its fleeting span,

To the stately, ancient walls

Of her hallowed, classic halls

On the banks of the old Raritan.

(Chorus)

V.

Then sing aloud to Alma Mater,

And keep the scarlet in the van';

For with her motto high,

Rutgers' name shall never die,

On the banks of the old Raritan.

(Chorus)

During the University Commencement in New Brunswick, an extra verse (in addition to the first and last above) is included in the singing of the Alma Mater, which goes as follows:

From New Jersey's northern lakes and mountains,

To her southern pines and gleaming shore,

Learning's fair and hallowed place

Joins us every creed and race

As we praise the name of Rutgers evermore.

• In 1989, several years after Rutgers became coeducational (1972), the University's administration has changed the official lyrics to reflect a gender-neutral political correctness, particularly by substituting the words "my friends" in place of Fuller's original words "my boys" in the first line of the chorus.

Over the years, several organizations on campus have penned additional verses, informal interjections, as well as parodies of these lyrics.