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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 classmen 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!

Hail, Pennsylvania!

The Official Alma Mater of Penn

lyrics by Edgar M. Dilley

Hail Pennsylvania, noble and strong
yal 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 pennsylvania through endless days!