Memories
School Anthems
In America, college anthems are called “fight songs.” They're meant
to be
played at inter-collegiate matches, to inspire the home team and
perhaps to
intimidate the opposition. Right! Picture all those hulking football
players
turning tail when that tuba starts pumping.
St Mary's has had a lot of anthems. At least four since 1960.
Some are assertive, while others follow the more literal definition of
an anthem: a prayer. Of course, for sports events, there's the immortal
Soda
lemon, soda lemon, gingerberry pop, St Mary's High School is always on
the top. With the passage of time the tune and lyrics fade from
memory, then
along comes a musically inclined staff member and starts a new
one. So here they are, music and lyrics documented for posterity.
Don't stop at the first. A couple of the others are very nice.
1960s; 1981-
Tune: With Cat Like
Tread, from
The
Pirates of Penzance
Lyricist unknown. Revived by Br Keane in 1981.
Catchy popular tune and nice fighting lyrics, but they sit
uncomfortably in places, and it's difficult to teach it right.
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The 1887 building
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Together we stand, St Mary's loyal men
Comrades all, right on to the end
Our work well done, we always do our best
Every task with courage and with zest
Forever true, forever true
To God and country we shall be
And always our dear school to thee
Refrain: Faithful we'll ever be
To our Alma Mater now and ever after
So that all shall see that we stand for loyalty
Onward we go, no matter what the cost
Striving still in spite of every loss
Our flag on high, waving in the air
Follow boys, it's proudly waiting there
The green and gold, the green and gold
For thee we'll toil with joy and love
And keep thee floating up above
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1971-1981
Tune: Original, written for SMS by Br B
McCarthy
Editor's pick. Original, short and to the point, dignified, and has a
nice modulation. |
St. Mary's, our own dear school
Our voices we join in praise of you
Your glory, so widely known, we proudly own
In you we learn to work and play
You direct us how to pray
God we serve, and then our land
These the loves for which we stand
So God keep us true to you
And bless our school |
Fr. Bonaventure celebrates mass in the 1973 chapel
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1965-1971
Tune: The Merry Ploughboy
Promoted by Br O'Neill. The Merry Ploughboy was an Irish pub song
sympathetic to the IRA.
Musically this has nothing in its favour and the second half of verse 2
has faded.
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Sgt. Plummy and Plummy
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Oh we're the boys of dear St. Mary's School
In the hills of Rajasthan
Where we work and play, are employed each day
Till we end our allotted span
It's a school we all are proud to own
And our teachers join us too
In the dim and distant years to come
To our motto we'll be true
Refrain: Valiant boys, we'll forge our way ahead
Though the way be rough or be smooth
May God grant we'll all meet up above
Each and all from the one dear school
In our class, without, on the field of play
We strive with all our might
To make the name of St Mary's great
In the eyes of one and all
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1963-64
Tune from an Irish folk melody. Lyrics
by Br Rigney
and Freddy Rosario (1966)
Poetic charm in these lyrics, weaves beautiful sceneries, and
may it never be forgotten. But due to its length, easy rhythm and
subsequent
contenders now in the field, it comes across more like an affectionate
campfire/reunion song than a fighting anthem.
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There's one fair spot in our country
With mem'ries so glorious and grand
Where nature has lavished its beauty
In the heart of the Rajputs' bright land
There lies our dear school with its teachers
The sons of St Patrick so true
And it bears in the depths of its bosom
High hopes for all and for you
Refrain It's my own school so gay
But, yet one day
I know that I must leave you
In other climes to stray
No matter where I wander
In cities near or far
My thoughts will return to Mount Abu
And this joy no one can mar
We walk every path of the jungle
Old Plummy so oft do we climb
To the haunts of the tiger and panther
Then back by the old road again
Sometimes to the point where the sunset
Sinks into the streamlets and rills
To return when the shadows of evening
And darkness come over the hills
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Paddy's Bridge, looking towards school
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Goethals Memorial School
What, another CB school's anthem? Sure, we're all
friends! As band master in 1968-69, Mr H J Ludwig introduced the
Goethals
anthem to St Mary's. Nice tune, we thought, but we found much later
that it was from “On,
Wisconsin,” the University of Wisconsin fight song. John
Philip Sousa is said to have described this as “the finest
college marching song ever written,” so here it is for the record. This
is roughly the version arranged by Mr Ludwig for the school band:
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