ACC #1: Boston College

Well, as I said in my last post, my first fight song series will be covering the Power 5 Conferences. These are the best conferences in the nation, and consists of the ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, and Pac-12. So, what better place to start then on the East Coast‽ The ACC, which stands for the Atlantic Coast Conference, has 14 members (technically there's 15 but I'm not counting Notre Dame because they're too cool and independent to participate in ACC conference football), and I will not list them off because that's part of the surprise for all you not-into-college-sports people.

The first school whose fight song I am going to review is Boston College's. The Eagle's fight song is called "For Boston," presumably because it was made for Boston *bu dum tiss*. Anyways, bad jokes aside, "For Boston" is the oldest original college fight song. I specify "original" because there is probably some school that uses an older melody as a school song, like rewritten versions of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (Glory Glory Hallelujah). "For Boston" was written by a fellow named T.J. Hurley, and even though I couldn't actually find the date it was published, (hopefully I will at some later date) I do know he was a member of Boston College's class of 1885, so it's probably pretty darn old. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, since it is the oldest fight song, it has no "rah's" or the word "fight," possibly because it was too cool for such generic words, or because those weren't really popular back in the 1880s. The words Hurley used are slightly outdated, but not so much so that you don't understand what you're singing about. They actually sound very poetic, which is the difference between songs as old as "For Boston" and other, newer fight songs. That's a problem sometimes though: some colleges' fight songs are so old (or pompous) they sound archaic, which means they have words people don't really use anymore. On the plus side, it makes specific references to the College itself, which always adds a bit of local culture and pride. And since it's in Boston, and a well known school, it was covered by the Dropkick Murphys, which is pretty neat. Here's the lyrics for you to form your own opinions about, and so you know what I'm talking about above^ (from fightmusic.com):

For Boston, for Boston, 

We sing our proud refrain! 

For Boston, for Boston, 

'Tis Wisdom's earthly fane. 

For here all are one 

And their hearts are true, 

And the towers on the Heights 

Reach to Heav'ns own blue. 

For Boston, for Boston, 

Till the echoes ring again! 

The song does have a second verse, but it is rarely heard or sung. This actually happens a lot with fight songs: either an opening intro gets phased out over time, or a second verse fades into obscurity. Here's the second verse in case you were interested:

For Boston, for Boston, 

Thy glory is our own! 

For Boston, for Boston, 

'Tis here that Truth is known. 

And ever with the Right 

Shall thy heirs be found, 

Till time shall be no more 

And thy work is crown'd. 

For Boston, for Boston, 

For Thee and Thine alone.

To conclude, the lyrics take a little getting used to, because of the fancy language, but the energetic melody helps keep it interesting. It isn't really a "get out of your seat and belt out the lyrics" kind of fight song, more like a "traditional clap along and sing in your inside voice" one. And even though I didn't mention this, the band does sing the lyrics, which always helps in passing down the oral tradition. It has stood the test of time, though, being a functioning fight song longer than a handful of US states have been states. If I were to rate it out of 10, I would probably give "For Boston" an 8/10, only because it isn't the most exciting fight song, and the lyrics are a little stale. Comment what you think of "For Boston" below, and stay tuned for my next ACC fight song review!