Cal Songs

Here you can find the lyrics and embedded audio of many of our fight songs.

Big “C”

Written in 1913 by Harold P. Williams and N. Loyall McLaren, arranged by Robert O. Briggs.
© UC Regents. All Rights Reserved.

On our rugged Eastern foothills,
Stands our symbol clear and bold,
Big “C” means to fight and strive
And win for blue and Gold.
Golden Bear is ever watching;
Day by day he prowls,
And when he hears the tread
Of lowly Stanfurd red,
From his Lair he fiercely growls.
What’s he say? He says:
Grrrrrah, Grrrrrrah!
Grrrr, Rrrr, Rrrrrah!
We are Sons of California,
Fighting for the Gold and Blue.
Palms of glory we will win
for Alma Mater true.
Stanfurd’s men will soon be routed
By our dazzling “C”,
And when we serpentine,
Their red will turn to green,
In our hour of victory!
What’s he say? He says:
Grrrrrah, Grrrrrrah!
Grrrr, Rrrr, Rrrrrah!

(Unofficial Third Verse)

Down our rugged Eastern foothills,
Slides our symbol through the trees;
Big “C” means look out below
And stand back if you please.
Stanfurd’s men will soon be routed
As it slips and falls,
And when you hear the crash
Of something getting smashed,
Then you’ll know it hit Bowles Hall!

Big Game Titration Verse

We are Sons of California,
Fighting for the Gold and Blue.
Psalms and story and titration
Soon will be all through.
Stanford’s men will soon be routed
By Lab-ra-tory
And when we stir this goo,
The red will turn to blue,
In this hour of Chemistry!

“Big C” is unquestionably the most famous and controversial Cal song. “Big C” was composed in 1913 by Harold P. Williams, with words by Norman Loyall McLaren. It was written to commemorate the creation of the large cement “C” built on the “rugged Eastern foothills” of the Berkeley campus in 1905, and the song was later entered in the Daily Californian’s then annual school song competition. In the Fall of 1913, the competition was stiff, but the Rally Committee managed to narrow the field down to two songs, “Big C” and “Stanford Jonah.” “Big C” took the prize with “Jonah” winning the next year.

The controversy surrounding the song has its roots in the “All University Weekend,” an annual event which began around 1948 and lasted into the 1960’s. This event was a double header football game that pitted Cal against UCLA and UC Davis against UC Santa Barbara. The games were played alternately in Berkeley one year and in Los Angeles the next year. Bands from all four of the schools would perform together in one giant, combined half-time show.

In one of the last “All U Weekends,” F. Kelley James, then Associate Director of the UCLA Band and alumnus of the Cal Band wrote an arrangement of “Big C” for the combined half-time show. Afterwards, UCLA continued using his arrangement of “Big C,” adding its own lyrics and renaming it “Sons of Westwood.” The UCLA Band began playing it regularly as their new fight song. James Berdahl, then director of the Cal Band, was incensed over what he felt was a violation of the sanctity of Cal songs. A bitter exchange ensued between Berdahl and James for the next several years concerning the legal and ethical grounds under which “Big C” was appropriated. The matter came to a head in February 18, 1969, when Irwin Coster, working on behalf of the UCLA cause, received official word from the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress that “Big C” had never been copyrighted, and thus it was in the Public Domain. Public Domain status meant that only adaptations and arrangements of the song could be copyrighted, so UCLA had every legal right to “steal” the song. Some regents and UCLA administrators thought it quite reasonable that this “little sister” of Cal maintain “Sons of Westwood” as a “reaffirmation [of the University of California’s] solidarity.” However, ardent students and alumni at Cal were never happy with the situation, especially Berdahl, who continued to fight for the abolition of “Sons of Westwood” through the remainder of his tenure as director. Ironically, the nation at large recognizes “Sons of Westwood” as UCLA’s fight song rather than Berkeley’s as a result of their successful sports programs and extensive exposure on televised games, but that may be changing with the success of Cal Sports in the 21st century!

“Big C” is traditionally the first song of the pregame to which the Band marches its signature Flying Wedge formation.

Sons of California

(Sing:)

We’re Sons of California,
A loyal company,
All shout for California
While we strive for victory.
All sing the joyful chorus
As her colors we unfold
Then, Hurrah! for California,
And for the Blue and Gold.

(Yell the Chorus:)

Hit it!
C !
A !
L !
I !
F O R !
N I A !
California!
California!
Californnnnnia!

(Sing:)

We’ll yell for California,
Dear Mother of us all.
We’ll fight for California
Till the crimson banners fall.
And raise the joyful chorus,
As her colors we unfold.
For we’ll win for California,
And for the Blue and Gold.

(Sing:)

We’re Sons of California,
Fair mistress of the sea.
And we’ll win for California,
Her glorious destiny.
Then raise the joyful chorus,
As her colors we unfold.
For we’ll win for California,
And for the Blue and Gold.

(Chorus)

No history of Cal Songs could be complete without mentioning Clinton R. “Brick” Morse. Morse was not only an outstanding athlete, earning a big “C” for every major sport, but also a talented singer. He organized a glee club in 1893 known as the “De Koven Club,” which became very popular, eventually rivaling the Eastern Glee Clubs. Morse’s group made twelve trips under his guidance to such places as Europe, Alaska, Canada, and Asia. In order to keep up with the demands of their popularity, Morse encouraged Glee Club members to write original compositions; his own contributions include “The Sons of California” and “Hail to California.”

Morse had the habit of improvising at the piano while making up words at the same time. He admitted that he “drummed out hundreds of [Cal Songs] and as promptly [forgot] them. It must have been an accident that [he] remembered ‘Hail to California’ and ‘Sons of California’ and wrote them out for the Glee Club to sing.” “Sons of California” was always performed slowly and solemnly by the Glee Club. As a result, it was not terribly popular with the student body. During the late 1930’s, the Band played a much faster and livelier arrangement, which prompted an interest from the student body. As a result, “Sons of California” is now one of the most well known and often played Cal Songs. “Sons of California” is traditionally the second song of the Cal Band’s pregame show.

Stanford Jonah

When the training days are done,
And the Big Game’s just begun,
And there’s music in the air;
When our team runs on the field,
Stanford knows her fate is sealed,
For the Golden Bear has left his lair.

When the yells from lusty throats,
Start to getting Stanford’s goat,
And the rooting section seems a howling mob, Hey! Hey!
Then you grab your hat and shout,
You let folks know you’re about,
For you know that Stanford Jonah’s on the job.

So…then… it’s…
Up with the Blue and Gold,
Down with the Red;
California’s out for a victory.
We’ll drop our battle-axe on
Stanford’s head, Chop!

When we meet her, our team will surely beat her.
Down on the Stanford Farm there’ll be no sound,
When our Oski rips through the air.
Like our friend Mister Jonah,
Stanford’s team will be found
In the tummy of the Golden Bear!

“The Stanford Jonah” was written in 1913 by Ted E. Haley for the annual song contest held by the Daily Californian, but that year the song lost to Williams’ and McLaren’s “Big C.” “The Stanford Jonah” got its break in 1914, however, when the Glee Club traveled to Europe. The Glee Club learned the song en route, and performed it during their tour. As a result, “The Stanford Jonah” became popular and won the annual song competition that year. It has since become one of the more popular Cal Songs, and it is particularly popular during Big Game week.

The tune appears to be unoriginal. The author of this report is aware of versions of this song at Georgia Tech and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Since Cal and Georgia Tech have had very few meetings, there is speculation that Georgia Tech may have acquired the tune after the 1929 Cal vs. Georgia Tech Rose Bowl.

Fight for California

Written in 1909 by Earl Elleson McCoy, Robert N. Fitch; arranged by Robert O. Briggs.
© UC Regents. All Rights Reserved.

Our sturdy Golden Bear,
Is watching from the skies,
Looks down upon our colors fair,
And guards us from his lair.
Our banner Gold and Blue,
The symbol on it too,
Means FIGHT! for California.
For California through and through!

Stalwarts girded for the fray,
Will strive for victory,
Their all at Mater’s feet will lay,
That brain and brawn will win the day.
Our mighty sons and true
Will strive for us anew,
And FIGHT! for California,
For California through and through!

In 1906 Earl Elleson McCoy, a student at the University of Illinois, wrote the “Lights Out March” and dedicated it to the commander of his R.O.T.C. unit. “Fight for California” is simply the trio and break strain of the “Lights Out March,” with an added introduction written by Charles Cushing. Though arguably THE quintessential Cal song, “Fight’s” origin is rather uninspiring. Brick Morse tells the story of how the lyrics for “Fight for California” came to be written by Robert Fitch: “One day the Glee Club was fooling around with a tune called ‘Lights Out.’ Fine for a college song,’ said Bob Fitch, ‘believe I’ll write some words to fit the music.’”

Of all Cal songs, “Fight for California” has the distinction of being played in arguably the most unique venue: namely, outer space. In 1987, NASA launched a shuttle mission to rescue and repair a communications satellite known as SolarMax. Several members of the shuttle crew were graduates from Berkeley, and one morning during the mission, mission control woke the crew to the blaring strains of “Fight for California.” Undoubtedly, the crew did not wake up late that morning!

“Fight for California” is played whenever a Cal athletic team enters the field of play, after every Cal scoring play in football, and whenever the Straw Hat Band marches into a performance. “Fight for California” traditionally is the fourth song of the Cal Band’s pregame, to which the Band marches from a block formation into the Script Cal.

California Triumph

Boldly, Sons and Daughters,
From our hearts our song we sing.
For all the glory we shall bring her,
Alma Mater’s name will ring.
Lift your voices; fly the banners;
From a distance all they shall see
Will be the symbol of California’s Triumph,
Rising to Victory!

Onward, Californians,
For our spirit shall not die.
To this occasion, we shall toast her;
Lift your glasses to the sky.
Cheer your praises, strike the Band up;
May the story always be told
Of our prevailing to bring a mighty vict’ry
Home for the Blue and Gold!

In the Spring of 2004, the Executive Committee of the Band decided to hold a competition to commission a new spirit song for Cal. Fifteen submissions came from all over the United States, including California, Maryland, Texas, and Minnesota. After the selection process, Hirokazu Hiraiwa’s composition, “California Triumph,” was selected the winner. Hiraiwa was a trombone player in the Cal Band for four years, before graduating in May 2004.

Because Hiraiwa did not include lyrics with his submission, a second competition was held during the Fall 2004 Football season to complete the song. Aaron Alcala-Mosley, a fifth-year percussion player in the Band, won that competition.
Though new songs have been written over the years, “California Triumph” is the first new Cal Song to be adopted by the Band since “Cal Band March” in 1978.

Cal Band March

As guards of California’s honor, we march along.
And loyal to mighty Alma Mater, we will be strong.
For we know about her glorious future
And we want to lead the way.
And when the game’s done,
California’s Golden Bear has carried the day.

All hail to California’s glory, victors we rise.
And still our banner’s proudly flying ‘neath golden skies.
Marching on, our drums and bugles calling
For our glorious destiny,
While all our hearts, true,
Carry forth the Gold and Blue throughout land and “C.”*

In 1978 the Tellefsen Hall Directors commissioned Jonathan Elkus (currently director of the University of California, Davis Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh) to compose “Cal Band March” in memory of Chris Tellefsen. Tellefsen was an employee of the Associated Students of the University of California student union who worked closely with the Band from the 1920’s through the 1960’s and helped the Band secure a new set of uniforms. Tellefsen was an honorary lifetime member of the Band, and the Band’s house/ residence hall was named in honor of him.

The lyrics of “Cal Band March” were adapted shortly after the piece was written. A contest was held within the Band (as with “Roll On”), and Robert Bramson and Susan Mattson both won, each submitting one verse. The song itself was rarely played until the trio was used as the third song of the Cal Band’s 1991 pregame show. Spring Show 1992 was the first time the entire march was performed with marching continuity.

California, We’re For You

Written in 1921 by Sydney K. Russell, arranged by W. D. Denny. © UC Regents. All Rights Reserved.

California’s on the field today,
Ev’ry man is ready for the fray
Gold and Blue means tried and true,
And once again you’ll see
That we are out for a victory.
All our rival’s hopes are doomed to die,
When our Golden Bear looks down on high;
Hear our Oski’s mighty thunder,
California, we’re for you.

Sons of California, brave and bold,
Fight the battle for the Blue and Gold,
Brawn and brain are all in vain
Unless our spirit’s there
In ev’ry son of the Golden Bear.
Through that line of steel and o’er the foe,
California’s watching as you go;
Let the echoes ring our Oski,
California, we’re for you.

The music and lyrics to “California, We’re For You” were written by Sydney K. Russell. The year it was first played is unknown, but it first appeared in the California Songbook in 1921. The present Cal Band arrangement was penned by William Denny for the 1966 “Spirit of Cal” recording.

Golden Bear

Oh, have you seen the heavens blue, heavens blue,
When just sev’n stars are shining through, shining through
Right overhead a jovial crew?
They’re joining hands to make the Bear.
Right overhead a jovial crew?
They’re joining hands to make the Bear!

And oh, that Bear’s a glorious sight, glorious sight,
A-circling ‘round the pole all night, pole all night;
And once you’ve seen him, you’re all right,
You’ve seen our California Bear.
And once you’ve seen him, you’re all right,
You’ve seen our California Bear!

He has a very patient air, patient air,
He wears a Paderewski hair, ‘rewski hair,
He’s the center rush of the heavens I swear,
Our silent, sturdy Golden Bear.
He’s the center rush of the heavens I swear,
Our silent, sturdy Golden Bear!

Oh have you seen our banner blue, banner blue?
The Golden Bear is on it too, on it too,
A Californian through and through,
Our totem, He, the Golden Bear.
A Californian through and through,
Our totem, He, the Golden Bear!

He might have been a Wolverine, Wolverine,
A Tiger, or a Badger been, Badger been,
Or yet some other beast, I ween,
He had his choice and lo – a Bear.
Or yet some other beast, I ween,
He had his choice and lo – a Bear!

He might have smiled on Michigan, Michigan,
Or countenanced the Harvard man, Harvard man,
Or even gone Yalesian.
But no – he’s California’s Bear.
Or even gone Yalesian.
But no – he’s California’s Bear.

Our totem takes us in his tow, in his tow,
He hugs our flag where e’er we go, e’er we go,
He makes it cold for every foe,
He is their frigid polar Bear.
He makes it cold for every foe,
He is their frigid polar Bear!

‘Twas he that froze the U. of P., U. of P.
And Princeton and Schenectady, ‘nectady,
And all the Western galaxy;
He hugged them tight, our Golden Bear.
And all the Western galaxy;
He hugged them tight, our Golden Bear!

The oldest song currently in the Cal Band’s repertoire is “The Golden Bear,” with lyrics written in 1895 by Professor Charles Mills Gayley. In order to understand the origins of the song, it is important to consider Gayley’s background and association with the University of California. Gayley was born in Shanghai in 1858, educated in England, and received his A.B. in 1878 at the University of Michigan. He became an assistant professor of Latin, and later Professor of English, at Michigan. While at Michigan, he displayed his flair for school songs by editing the songbook, “Songs of the Yellow and Blue.” In 1889, Gayley moved to California, serving the University of California as a professor of English Language and Literature, research lecturer, and professor emeritus. Like many of his fellow professors at the new university, he encouraged the development of traditions that would foster school spirit and loyalty; his most lasting contributions to his development are his songs.

In 1895, Berkeley was still in its infancy, having only been founded 27 years earlier. The University of California track team, underfunded and without a coach, decided to travel to the East in order to compete in the prestigious Eastern Track Meets, where California ran against Princeton University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, and Chicago University. The upstart university from the west coast surprised everyone by winning the meet! At the meet, the team had displayed a blue banner with a golden bear upon it for good luck, and when the local newspapers noticed the totem, they began to claim that it had “jinxed” the Eastern schools. After the track meet, the exhausted team returned to Berkeley in the dead of night and was greeted by the faculty and students at the West Berkeley railroad station. As the team made their way off the train clutching their banner, the words to “The Golden Bear” came to Gayley in a sudden flash of inspiration, and he soon set the words to a popular Air of the time, “The Pope.” Because he was known and loved by the student body for his sincere and genuine concern for their welfare, it is fitting that Gayley’s songs still remain a vital part of the California Spirit.

Hail to California

Hail to California,
Alma Mater dear;
Sing the joyful chorus,
Sound it far and near.
Rallying round her banner,
We will never fail;
California, Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!

Hail to California,
Queen in whom we’re blest;
Spreading light and goodness
Over all the West.
Fighting ‘neath her standard,
We shall sure prevail;
California, Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!

“Hail to California” was written by Clinton “Brick” Morse while improvising at the piano in 1907. He was asked by University President Benjamin Ide Wheeler and Professor Gayley to write songs for the rooting section, and “Hail to California” was one of many he composed (see “Sons of California”). Morse’s sentiment was that “Sons of California” and “Hail to California” would be “nothing unless sung in harmony.” The fraternities began to sing “Hail to California” (though not in harmony), and its popularity subsequently spread. In fact, “Hail to California” has often threatened to supplant “All Hail Blue and Gold” as the official Alma Mater of Berkeley. Indeed, “Hail to California” is used as the Alma Mater of UC Davis, UCLA, and of the UC system as a whole. The Cal Band traditionally sings “Hail to California” in harmony after playing the “Star Spangled Banner” at every home men’s basketball game.

Make Way for the Bear

(Note: This introductory passage is rarely sung or played.)

Rumbling, grumbling, loud upon the air,
Sounds the growling of the mighty Bear.
Californians gather ‘round his Lair,
And march to Victory.

We’re on the way, Hey! Hey!
Go all the way, Hey! Hey!

Marching along for California
We stride beside the fighting Bear.
Shouting loud the challenge of our battle cry,
As high across the sky,
Our banner’s proudly flying.

On for California,
Rolls the tide, Stand aside, Have a care!
For in a mighty throng,
We swing along ‘neath Blue and Gold so fair,
And march to Victory.
Make way for the Bear!

“Make Way for the Bear” was written in 1965 by Ted E. Haley for the fiftieth anniversary of his graduating class, the class of 1915. The Band immediately took up the song in a Larry Austin arrangement and recorded it as part of the 1966 “Spirit of Cal” recording. Generally the Cal Band only plays the trio section.

Roll On

Roll on, you Golden Bear,
For Victory is in the air;
For California’s fame,
We’ll be winning the game,
And for Alma Mater fair.
So roll on, you Golden Bear,
Our loyal Band is always there;
We look to thee, Mighty “C”,
For California’s Victory!

“Roll On” was written by the professional composer Paul Yoder in 1961 for University of California High School Band Day. The piece was then known as the “Massed Band Special,” and it combined the elements of a fanfare and a hymn, the idea being to capture in one song the elements of an Alma Mater and a fight song. “Roll On” was the fight song portion. David Mandel won a competition held within the band to write lyrics for the song. The entire “Massed Band Special” was recorded on the 1966 “Spirit of Cal” recording.

“Roll On” became associated with pantsing in the early 1960’s. The story goes that during a Straw Hat Band trip north, a bandsman repeatedly sang “Roll On,” undoubtedly irritating his traveling companions. When the opportunity arose, they relieved the unrestrained singer of his pants while serenading him with “Roll On.”

California Drinking Song

(speaking start)

The steward went below. (Shhh!)
To light the captain’s lamp. (Shhh!)
The lamp it would not light. (Why not?)
Because the wick was damp. (Oh!)
The captain went below. (Shhh!)
To kick the steward’s… (Shhh!)
He said, “So fire it up you son-of-a-bitch,
The Golden Gate is passed!”

(singing start)

Oh, they had a little party down in Newport;
There was Harry, there was Mary, there was Grace.
Oh, they had a little party down in Newport,
And they had to carry Harry from the place.
Oh, they had to carry Harry to the ferry,
And the ferry carried Harry to the shore;
And the reason that they had to carry Harry to the ferry
Was that Harry couldn’t carry any more.
For California, for California,
The hills send back the cry,
We’re out to do or die,
For California, for California,
We’ll win the game or know the reason why.
And when the game is over, we will buy a keg of booze,
And drink to California ‘till we wobble in our shoes.
So drink, tra la la,
Drink, tra la la,
Drink, drank, drunk last night,
Drunk the night before;
Gonna get drunk tonight
Like I never got drunk before;
For when I’m drunk, I’m as happy as can be
For I am member of the Souse family.
Now the Souse family is the best family
That ever came over from old Germany.
There’s the Highland Dutch, and the Lowland Dutch,
The Rotterdam Dutch, and the Irish.
Sing glorious, victorious,
One keg of beer for the four of us.
Sing glory be to God that there are no more of us,
For one of us could drink it all alone. Damn near.
Here’s to the Irish, dead drunk. The lucky stiffs….

The “California Drinking Song” is one of the most popular Cal songs among students and alumni – everyone knows the words to this song! One of Cal’s most unusual songs, over the years, no less than five different songs have been melded together to form today’s current rendition. The core element of “California Drinking Song” is “Rambled,” otherwise known as “California.” The tune is based on the song “Oh, Didn’t He Ramble,” by Cole and Johnson (copyright 1906). The words were changed to what we know as “For California, for California, The hills send back the cry, We’re out to do or die,” and first appeared in printed form in 1906. The author of the text is unknown.

For a long time, the Band often played “Rambled” at football games, playing the chorus twice. When the “Drinking Song” element that follows was also played, it was known as “Rambled Into.” In Roschelle Zella Paul’s master thesis, “Song Tradition of the University of California at Berkeley,” she mentions that “in 1939, the University Band and the Glee Club went down to Los Angeles for the UCLA vs. California football game. When they returned, both groups had joined additional verses of a whole new song to the old ‘California’ song. [Since then] even more verses have accumulated.” The verses Paul refers to follow the “Rambled” part of “California Drinking Song.” Titled “One More Drink for the Four of Us,” this part of “California Drinking Song” is a traditional song of conviviality, sung throughout the United States (for example, Ohio State University has its own version of this song).

The origins of other elements of “California Drinking Song” are more difficult to pinpoint. It is believed that the “Speaking Start” (The steward went below…,) is from a traditional Navy drinking song; the origins of the “Singing Start” (Oh, they had a little party down in Newport…,) are unclear. “California Drinking Song” ends on a dominant seventh chord, which leaves a sense of unresolution. Consequently, the song beckons for additional lyrics which band members and students have been more than willing to supply. Many different versions currently circulate through campus. This song is often sung (with accompaniment) by the Band.