Many universities have a fight song taken from a musical or by changing the words to a popular song.
The University of Alabama’s fight song, ‘Yea, Alabama,’ is organic, composed right on the Capstone campus by a UA student. That song is now 100 years old. 1926-2026.
Despite some friendly competition from songs “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Dixieland Delight,” the official fight song is not going anywhere.
The student newspaper was known in 1926 – as it is now – as ‘The Crimson-White.’ The 1926 editor of the C-W was a student named Ethelred “Epp” Sykes. He was also ROTC captain and a musician. He wrote the lyrics to Yea, Alabama for a campus contest sponsored by the campus humor magazine, Rammer-Jammer. He won, and the rest is history and Crimson Tide tradition.
The song includes a tribute to the Crimson Tide’s first two national championship football teams and their victories in the 1925 and 1926 Rose Bowls.
Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then.
One reference in the words remains as relevant today as it was in 1926:
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave.
Alabama and the Georgia Bulldogs remain one of the fiercest rivalries in the NCAA and often is a difference-making game in the SEC and National Championship.
Another reference has lost its meaning:
Send those Yellow Jackets to a watery grave.
Alabama and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets no longer play each other and haven’t played for a number of years.
At one point in the song, Sykes waxed poetic. This line is often excerpted and used to illustrate a striking play or win by the Crimson Tide:
For Bama’s pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson flame.
The musical arrangement was created by Steve Sample for the University’s famous Million Dollar Band.
Epp Sykes wanted his song to have staying power, so he donated his prize money to have the tune arranged, and he gifted the copyright and all royalties to the university.
Generations of Alabama students and fans instantly recognize the tune, and many can sing along.
Yea, Alabama! Drown ’em Tide!
Every ‘Bama man’s behind you,
Hit your stride.
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave.
And if a man starts to weaken,
That’s a shame!
For Bama’s pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson flame.
Fight on, fight on, fight on men!
Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then.
HEY, go roll to victory,
Hit your stride,
You’re Dixie’s football pride,
The Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!!
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler is a freelance writer about the colorful and positive in Alabama — her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor. He played trumpet in the Million Dollar Band and plays now in the Million Dollar alumni band. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com
