Fight for California
Encyclopedia
Fight for California is the official fight song
of the University of California, Berkeley
. The tune is a march
and is from the "trio" or final strain of the "Lights Out March" written by Earl Elleson McCoy in 1906. The lyrics were written by Robert N. Fitch of the class of 1909.
marches from a concentric square formation into the script Cal.
The Cal Band typically plays the complete Lights Out March at the ending of a post-game concert for Cal sporting events that they attend.
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. The tune is a march
March (music)
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...
and is from the "trio" or final strain of the "Lights Out March" written by Earl Elleson McCoy in 1906. The lyrics were written by Robert N. Fitch of the class of 1909.
Usage
The song is played whenever a California athlete enters the playing field at the beginning (or after halftime) of an athletic competition, or after a touchdown is scored in football. In football games, it is the final song played during the band's pre-game show, at which time the Cal BandCal Band
The University of California Marching Band, usually shortened to Cal Band, is the marching band for the University of California, Berkeley. While the Cal Band is student-run, it is administered under the auspices of the university and represents Cal at sporting events and social gatherings...
marches from a concentric square formation into the script Cal.
The Cal Band typically plays the complete Lights Out March at the ending of a post-game concert for Cal sporting events that they attend.
Trivia
- In 1987, during a shuttle mission to repair a communications satellite, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
mission control woke up the shuttle crew (several of whom were California graduates) with Fight for California.
- Students at Stanford, Cal's traditional rival, sing a parody version called The Dirty Golden Bear.