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Traditions of the Penn Glee Club

The Colors of Penn

According to the records of Francis James Dallett, the University Archivist in 1983:

"The earliest known representation of the combined Penn colors, red and blue, is as reported: on the incised letters of the lid of the 1871 College Hall cornerstone. I am unable to trace the use of either color as having any prior use on any document or artifact which would indicate any special significance to the institution; of course, the two colors do reflect the colors of the national flag. The whole business of assigned institutional colors is a 19th century phenomenon, perhaps with roots in the Romantic Age in the commercial vein of the 'assigned' tartans of the Scottish clans who had no defined plaids earlier. Eighteenth century American academic institutions simply did not have colors."

The Red and Blue

Often considered the national anthem of Penn, this is the song that all Penn students must know. It even has a bit of simple choreography to it. Listed below are the first verse and refrain.

Come all ye loyal classmates now in hall and campus through,
Lift up your hearts and voices for the royal Red and Blue.
Fair Harvard has her crimson, Old Yale her colors too,
But for dear Pennsylvania, we wear the Red and Blue.

Hurrah, hurrah, Pennsylvania,
Hurrah for the Red and the Blue;
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah,
Hurrah for the Red and Blue.

One color's in the blushing rose, the other tints the clouds,
And when together both disclose, we're happy as the gods.
We ask no other emblem, no other sign to view,
We only ask to see and cheer our colors Red and Blue.

How often when on fields of sport, we've seen out boys go through,
The very air was rent in twain with cheers for Red and Blue.
We know that vict'ry then was ours, all else we might eschew,
If only we could wave and sing our colors Red and Blue.

And then upon the breast of her whose heart beats warm and true,
It is the dearest sight of all to see our Red and Blue.
She wears them with a smile so bright, it wakes our hearts anew,
To swear eternal loyalty to dear old Red and Blue.

And now thro' al the years to come, in midst of toil and care,
We'll get new inspiration from the colors waving there.
And when to all our college life we've said our last adieu,
We'll never say adieu to thee, our colors Red and Blue.

Hail, Pennsylvania!

The Official Alma Mater of Penn

lyrics by Edgar M. Dilley

Hail Pennsylvania, noble and strong
To you with loyal hearts we lift our song
Swelling to heaven loud our praises ring
Hail Pennsylvania, of thee we sing.

Majesty as a crown rest on thy brow
Pride, honor, glory, love before thee bow.
Ne'er can thy spirit die, thy walls decay
Hail Pennsylvania, of thee we pray.

Hail Pennsylvania, guide of our youth
Lead thou thy children on to light and truth.
Thee when death summons us, others shall praise
Hail ?ennsylvania through endless days!