School Song
There are a few school songs at Williston. One commonly known among students and alumni is "Sammy," in reference to founder and first headmaster Samuel Williston. While the song is sung on many occasions, singing "Sammy" at midfield has become a tradition for the varsity football team after home victories.
The words are as follows:
Sammy, my Sammy, My heart yearns for thee,
Yearns for your campus and your old elm tree,
Long may we cherish in years yet to come,
Long may we cherish Williston.
The "Williston Hymn" was a standby at the beginning and end of year assemblies, as well as at the Cum Laude assembly, for many decades (although apparently discontinued some time in the 2000s). The text was as follows:
God preserve our alma mater/ Williston forevermore/ In the sunshine of thy favor/ Guard her, keep her, we implore/ Crown her still with strength and honor/ By thy grace renew her youth/ In the light that never faileth/ Lead her on from truth to truth/ Here today upon her altars/ We present our sacrifice/ Though tomorrow widely sundered/ Still may this our prayer arise/ God preserve our alma mater/ Williston forevermore/ In the sunshine of thy favor/ Guard her, keep her, we implore/ Amen.
The tune of the Williston hymn, through unfortunate coincidence, was the German national anthem, "Deutschlandlied." Long before Germany adopted it, the melody was composed by Joseph Haydn, for use as the Austrian national anthem. In 1797 Haydn incorporated it into his "Emperor" string quartet, op. 76, no. 3.
O Williston, the school’s new alma mater, made its debut at Convocation on September 14, 2007 and is performed at the school’s more formal occasions, such as Convocation and Baccalaureate.
Read more about this topic: Williston Northampton School
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