Fight songs are woven into the fabric of college football. Few other tunes have fans singing them at the top of their lungs week after week. Many super fans even play fight songs at their funerals.
The best fight songs are instantly recognizable by most fans. Michigan and Notre Dame have classic examples. A good fight song is an ear worm with victorious fans singing it all the way home and defeated fans hearing it ringing in their ears for days.
Fight songs fire up, rally and unify a fanbase like nothing else, leading the cheering effort around a common tune everyone knows and sings together. They are the best kind of sing-alongs.
Typically a rousing short song played by the school's band, fans have been singing along to fight songs for over a century. Some have a long history. The first official fight song dates to 1885 when T.J. Hurley wrote "For Boston" for Boston College.
Some of the best fight songs in college football are in the SEC. There are also a few that are far from memorable. A lot of variables go into a good fight song. Like all music, some songs are more memorable than others.
Another key to a great fight song? Historically, the team has have to had success in order for the majority of college football fans to have heard it in the first place. A team might have a great song, but if it has spend the past 50 years barely making it to a bowl game, then it doesn't really matter in the big picture.
16. Missouri Tigers: "Every True Son"
Sometimes it works when a fight song borrows a tune, like Georgia's "Glory." But Mizzou's "Every True Son" set to the tune of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" is odd and feels really out of place. It is more reminiscent of "Lawrence of Arabia" than college football.
Every true son, so happy-hearted Skies above us are blue There's a spirit so deep within us Old Missouri here's to you When the band plays the Tiger war song And when the fray is through We will tramp, tramp, tramp, around the columns With a cheer, for old Mizzou!
15. Kentucky Wildcats: "On, On, U of K"
More identifiable to college basketball fans, the Kentucky fight song better is so generic it sounds more like the background music on a Warner Brothers Looney Tunes cartoon. Dating to 1922, "On, On, U of K" is very ordinary.
On, on U of K. We are right for the fight today! Hold that ball and hit that line. Every Wildcat star will shine. We’ll fight, fight, fight for the Blue and White, as we roll to that goal, varsity. And we’ll kick, pass and run ‘till the battle is won, and we’ll bring home the victory.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores: "Dynamite"
Debuted in 1938, Vandy's fight song has "Dynamite" has quite possibly the best name of any fight song in America. Unfortunately, the song itself isn't dynamite. It is pretty average and forgettable.
Dynamite, Dynamite When Vandy starts to fight Down the field with blood to yield If need be save the shield If victory's won, when battle's done Then Vandy's name will rise in fame But, win or lose, the fates will choose And Vandy's game will be the same Dynamite, Dynamite When Vandy starts to fight! (Fight!)
13. Mississippi State Bulldogs: "Hail State"
"Hail State" has been the Bulldogs fight song since 1939. It actually sounds like an AI wrote it. It's very generic. It is hard to think anyone outside of the state of Mississippi has ever heard it.
“Hail dear ol' State! Fight for that victory today. Hit that line and tote that ball, Cross the goal before you fall! And then we'll yell, yell, yell, yell! For dear ol' State we'll yell like H-E-L-L! Fight for Mis-sis-sip-pi State, Win that game today!”
12. Auburn Tigers: "War Eagle"
"War Eagle" has a long intro, similar to "Yea Alabama," but it has a false stop that is disconcerting. It feels like it ends after a few seconds. But then it goes on into a pretty ordinary fight song.
War Eagle, fly down the field Ever to conquer, never to yield War Eagle, fearless and true Fight on, you orange and blue Go! Go! Go! On to vict’ry, strike up the band Give ’em hell, give ’em hell Stand up and yell, Hey! War Eagle win for Auburn, Power of Dixie Land!z
11. Ole Miss Rebels: "Forward Rebels"
Also known as "Rebel March, Forward Rebels" is your prototypical southern fight song. Which is probably why it sounds very average. Very few college football fans would be able to match this song with Mississippi.
Forward Rebels, march to fame, Hit that line and win this game, We know that you'll fight it through, For your colors Red and Blue -- Fight, Fight, Fight.
Rebels you're the Southland's pride, Take that ball and hit your stride, Don't stop 'till the victory's won, For your Ole Miss. Fight, fight for your Ole Miss.
10. Texas A&M Aggies: "Aggie War Hymn"
The "Aggie War Hymn" doesn't sound like a fight song. They like to be different at A&M and, as a fight song, the "Aggie War Hymn" is different. The intro is almost identical to the "Mickey Mouse Club" theme. The tune is also very long for a fight song.
While other fight songs like "Texas Fight" and "Yea Alabama" mention school rivals in the lyrics, more than half of the Aggie War Hymn talks about trying to beat Texas. Which is admittedly rare. There are also so many nonsensical words.
That said, it is recognizable and identifiable with Texas A&M. Most of the fight songs lower on this list can't say that.
Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck! Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck! All hail to dear old Texas A&M Rally around Maroon and White Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies They are the boys who show the real old fight That good old Aggie spirit thrills us And makes us yell and yell and yell So let’s fight for dear old Texas A&M We’re going to beat you all to Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem Rough Tough! Real Stuff! Texas A&M! Good-bye to texas university So long to the orange and the white Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies They are the boys that show the real old fight “The eyes of Texas are upon you . . .” That is the song they sing so well (Sounds like Hell!) So good-bye to texas university We’re going to beat you all to Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem Rough Tough! Real Stuff! Texas A&M
9. South Carolina Gamecocks: "Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way"
The South Carolina fight song sounds more like a Broadway show tune than a fight song. That's with good reason. "Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way" was adapted from the musical number "Step to the Rear" from the Broadway show "How Now, Dow Jones." It's still referred to by many as "Step to the Rear" and it is still pretty catchy.
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! USC will win today—go 'Cocks! So, let's give a cheer, Carolina is here The fighting Gamecocks all the way!
8. Arkansas Razorbacks: "Arkansas Fight"
"Arkansas Fight" has a great opening. The Arkansas band really plays it up too, especially in the Nolan Richardson basketball era. The rest is decent but not especially memorable.
Hit that line! Hit that line! Keep on going! Move that ball right down the field! Give a cheer. Rah! Rah! Never fear. Rah! Rah! Arkansas will never yield! On your toes, Razorbacks, to the finish, Carry on with all your might! For it's A-A-A-R-K-A-N-S-A-S for Arkansas! Fight, fight, fight!
7. LSU Tigers: "Fight for LSU"
Dating back to 1950, "Fight for LSU" has gained recognition in the past couple decades, thanks in large part to the Tigers rise as a college football power.
Sporting a solid intro similar to Alabama, it really gets going near the end.
Like Knights of old, Let’s fight to hold The glory of the Purple Gold. Let’s carry through, Let’s die or do To win the game for dear old LSU. Keep trying for that high score; Come on and fight, We want some more, some more. Come on you Tigers, Fight! Fight! Fight! for dear old L-S-U.
6. Florida Gators: "The Orange and Blue"
Florida's fight song has a very traditional sound. There is one small riff right before the second verse that is very recognizable and is played on it own during games.
"Orange and Blue" was more recognizable to the mass college football audience when the Gators were thriving under Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. The song dates to 1916, but the current arrangement dates to 1964.
On, brave old Florida, just keep on marching on your way! On, brave old Florida, and we will cheer you on your play! And as you march along, we'll sing a victory song anew; With all your might, Go on and fight Gators, fight! For Dixie's rightly proud of you.
So give a cheer for the Orange and Blue Waving Forever! Forever pride of Old Florida, May she droop never. We’ll sing a song for the flag today, Cheer for the team at play! On to the goal, We’ll fight our way for Flor-i-da!
5. Oklahoma Sooners: "Boomer Sooner"
Texas fans HATE this song. Most have had it ringing in their ears many times after leaving the Cotton Bowl. But that's also why it is a great fight song. "Boomer Sooner" is iconic, instantly recognizable and a great example of a top tier fight song.
The lyrics date to 1905 and refer to the refer to the Oklahoma Land Rush 16 years earlier. The Oklahoma band also plays "Oklahoma!" from the musical "Oklahoma!" but it's "Boomer Sooner" that is played constantly.
Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner. Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner. Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner. Boomer Sooner, OK U! Oklahoma, Oklahoma Oklahoma, Oklahoma Oklahoma, Oklahoma Oklahoma, OK U! I'm a Sooner born and Sooner bred and when I die, I'll be Sooner dead Rah Oklahoma, Rah Oklahoma Rah Oklahoma, OK U!
4. Alabama Crimson Tide: "Yea Alabama"
What a great intro. It's one of the longer intros of any fight song and it just builds the tension as Alabama fans get ready to explode. If you grew up outside the SEC, "Yea, Alabama" was one of those fight songs that you instantly recognized, but couldn't quite place. That changed after Nick Saban made the Crimson Tide must-see TV.
The song dates to 1926. A campus humor magazine ran a contest, starting in 1925, but nothing popped. After Alabama won the Rose Bowl, the editor of the school newspaper won the contest.
Yea, Alabama! Drown ’em Tide! Every ‘Bama man’s behind you, Hit your stride. Go teach the Bulldogs to behave, Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave. And if a man starts to weaken, That’s a shame! For Bama’s pluck and grit have Write her name in Crimson flame. Fight on, fight on, fight on men! Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then. So roll on to victory, Hit your stride, You’re Dixie’s football pride, Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!!
3. Georgia Bulldogs: "Glory, Glory"
Similar to Tennessee, Georgia has an official fight song and one that everyone associates the school. "Glory" is set to the tune of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," which obviously also helps its instant recognition.
But it is the standout arrangement, which dates to 1915, that makes "Glory" special. Georgia fans will often replace a part of the song with disparaging words about their rivals.
Glory, glory to old Georgia! Glory, glory to old Georgia! Glory, glory to old Georgia! G-E-O-R-G-I-AGlory, glory to old Georgia! Glory, glory to old Georgia! Glory, glory to old Georgia! G-E-O-R-G-I-A
2. Tennessee Volunteers: "Rocky Top"
Technically, "Rocky Top" isn't Tennessee's official fight song. That distinction goes to a song called "Down the Field." But let's face it, "Rocky Top" is the only fight song people outside of Tennessee remember.
The best fight songs are instantly recognizable to everyone, not to just the home fans. It helps that "Rocky Top" is an established song. But it's the arrangement and the way the Tennessee band belts it out that makes it a classic.
1. Texas Longhorns: "Texas Fight"
"Texas Fight!" Isn't it great? Longhorns fans are lucky to have such a great, recognizable fight song and an even better alma mater. The song has all the hallmarks of a good fight song. It's rousing. It has a great intro, and it's easy to sing along to.
"Texas Fight" has the best attribute a fight song can have: It is instantly identifiable. Three notes in and you know. It is one of those songs that rings in the ears of opposing fans for days.
Texas Fight, Texas Fight, And it’s goodbye to A&M. Texas Fight, Texas Fight, And we’ll put over one more win.Texas Fight, Texas Fight, For it’s Texas that we love best. Give ’em hell, Give ’em hell, Go Horns Go!" And it’s good-bye to all the rest!
Yea Orange! Yea White! Yea Longhorns! Fight! Fight! Fight! Texas Fight! Texas Fight, Yea Texas Fight! Texas Fight! Texas Fight, Yea Texas Fight!
The Eyes of Texas are upon you, All the livelong day. The Eyes of Texas are upon you, You cannot get away. Texas Fight, Texas Fight, For it’s Texas that we love best. Give ’em hell, Give ’em hell, Go Horns Go!" And it good-bye to all the rest!
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: SEC Rankings: Ranking all 16 SEC fight songs from first to last