Argonotes
Encyclopedia
Argonotes, the unofficial band of the Toronto Argonauts
is an all volunteer organization committed to bringing quality musical entertainment and a "traditional football atmosphere" to all Argonauts home football games. Comprising more than 50 musicians on most game days, Argonotes is the largest musical organization associated with the CFL
.
In addition to game day duties, the band also stays active during the offseason by promoting the Argos, Toronto
, and the city's pride by taking part in various local events (Leafs
, Raptors
, Marlies
games, fan festivals, etc.).
Occasionally, the band takes its show on the road by representing Toronto and its fans in other cities such as Hamilton
and Montreal
for events such as the Labour Day Classic
and playoff games.
Starting in June and running until the end of the football season, the band rehearses weekly.
, Queen's
, Western
, UofT
, WLU and McGill
university bands, ranging from recent graduates to people who last played in the 1950s.
Highlights from the first decade of the Argonotes:
and Row, Row, Row Your Boat
are also common.
The team's traditional fight song, popular in the 1950s and 60s and recently rediscovered, is Go Argos Go:
Go Toronto Argos go go go
Pull together fight the foe foe foe
Scoring touchdowns for the blue on blue
The Argos will win for you
Full of fight and courage you can’t stop
They pile up the points until they reach the top
Pull together till the Grey Cup’s won
Go Argos go go go
Go Toronto Argos go go go
Pull together fight the foe foe foe
Scoring touchdowns for the blue on blue
The Argos will win for you
Full of fight and courage you can’t stop
They pile up the points until they reach the top
Pull together till the Grey Cup’s won
Go Argos go Toronto go
Go Argos go go go
Another traditional-style fight song played by the band is Argos Rule the CFL, a song written by Tony Daniels and Damon Papadopolous of Talk 640 Radio shortly before the band's formation:
The Alouettes, Lions and the Blue Bombers
Tiger-Cats, Eskimoes and Stampeders
The Roughriders and the other Rough Riders
But the Argos Rule the CFL
T! O! R! O! N! T! O!
A! R! G! O! N!A!U!T!S!
Note that since the demise of the Ottawa Rough Riders
, the third line is now no other Rough Riders.
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
is an all volunteer organization committed to bringing quality musical entertainment and a "traditional football atmosphere" to all Argonauts home football games. Comprising more than 50 musicians on most game days, Argonotes is the largest musical organization associated with the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
In addition to game day duties, the band also stays active during the offseason by promoting the Argos, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, and the city's pride by taking part in various local events (Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
, Marlies
Toronto Marlies
The Toronto Marlies is a Canadian professional ice hockey team currently playing in the American Hockey League . The top affiliate of the National Hockey League 's Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies play at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario...
games, fan festivals, etc.).
Occasionally, the band takes its show on the road by representing Toronto and its fans in other cities such as Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
for events such as the Labour Day Classic
Labour Day Classic
The Labour Day Classic is a particular week of the Canadian Football League schedule that is played over the Labour Day weekend. This particular weekend, typically the tenth or eleventh week in the season, is known for its matchups that do not change from year to year, unlike other weeks of the...
and playoff games.
Starting in June and running until the end of the football season, the band rehearses weekly.
Band history
The Argonotes are the spiritual successors to earlier marching bands associated with the Argonauts over the franchise's long history. The last Argonauts band had dissolved by the 1970s, and only the occasional invited marching band played at halftimes of games in the 1980s and early 90s. The Argonotes era began in 1995, when the band was founded by Steve Hayman. The recruited players were mostly local alumni of the WaterlooUniversity of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, Queen's
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, Western
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, UofT
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, WLU and McGill
McGill
McGill may refer to:People:* McGill , a common surname of Scottish and Irish origin and list of for individuals with the surname McGill* McGill family , a prominent early Americo-Liberian family...
university bands, ranging from recent graduates to people who last played in the 1950s.
Highlights from the first decade of the Argonotes:
- 1996 - First road trip, to Hamilton for the 1996 Grey Cup Festival.
- 1998 - First trip to Montreal for playoff game
- 1999 - First appearance outside of a Leafs game
- 2000 - At the request of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Argonotes temporarily become the Ticats Band, "Orchestra Wee-Wee", for the Ticats Grey Cup Ring dinner.
- 2001 - Performing at parties surrounding Grey Cup festivities in Montreal
- 2002 - Official Band, World Beer Games
- 2004 - Defeats Roughriders Pep Band in sonic battle at Grey Cup in Ottawa.
- 2007 - CFL Grey Cup weekend performances in Toronto.
Fight Songs
The band plays a number of pep band tunes common to sporting environments, with a heavy emphasis on songs by Canadian bands or artists. Nautical tunes such as Anchors AweighAnchors Aweigh
"Anchors Aweigh" is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy, and strongly associated with the United States Navy, composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmerman with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles. Zimmerman was at the time a Lieutenant, and had been bandmaster of the United States Naval Academy...
and Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is an English language nursery rhyme, and a popular children's song, often sung as a round. It can also be an 'action' nursery rhyme where singers sit opposite one another and 'row' forwards and backwards with joined hands...
are also common.
The team's traditional fight song, popular in the 1950s and 60s and recently rediscovered, is Go Argos Go:
Go Toronto Argos go go go
Pull together fight the foe foe foe
Scoring touchdowns for the blue on blue
The Argos will win for you
Full of fight and courage you can’t stop
They pile up the points until they reach the top
Pull together till the Grey Cup’s won
Go Argos go go go
Go Toronto Argos go go go
Pull together fight the foe foe foe
Scoring touchdowns for the blue on blue
The Argos will win for you
Full of fight and courage you can’t stop
They pile up the points until they reach the top
Pull together till the Grey Cup’s won
Go Argos go Toronto go
Go Argos go go go
Another traditional-style fight song played by the band is Argos Rule the CFL, a song written by Tony Daniels and Damon Papadopolous of Talk 640 Radio shortly before the band's formation:
The Alouettes, Lions and the Blue Bombers
Tiger-Cats, Eskimoes and Stampeders
The Roughriders and the other Rough Riders
But the Argos Rule the CFL
T! O! R! O! N! T! O!
A! R! G! O! N!A!U!T!S!
Note that since the demise of the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
, the third line is now no other Rough Riders.