ACC #2: Clemson

First of all, I’d like to apologize for the gap between this post and the last; Christmas break was a great opportunity to do nothing; therefore I did as much nothing as possible. Anyways, next up in the ACC is the University of Clemson. The Tigers actually have two fight songs, one is much more recognizable and associated with Clemson, while the other is a little more obscure. So let's talk about the more obscure one first. "Tiger Rah" was the first official fight song of the Clemson Tigers. As this excerpt from Tigernet.com explains:

The history of fight songs at Clemson University is a long and interesting one. From the earliest days of Clemson College, the cadet band played the Army Song ("When the Caissons Go Rolling Along"). In 1935 Edwin Jones Freeman, a professor and an adviser to the band, wrote a tune called "Tiger Rah!" which became the university's official fight song through 1947. It is a well composed tune, worthy of inclusion in Clemson's traditions.

It is a much more traditional style fight song, with all the ingredients to make it a staple at any other university, or at least well known: Rahs, Hails, the phrase "Alma Mater", and a direct reference to a mascot and the school in the song, not as a cheer. The melody isn't necessarily outstanding, but it won't make you fall asleep. The lyrics are solid, not being too fancy to understand, but still fancy enough not to be of the common folk. Also, when the lyrics are centered, they look like the Japanese symbol for soil (土):

Tiger Rah! 

Tiger Rah! 

We will fight, fight, fight for every win! 

Our Alma Mater reign supreme alway, 

Spirit, power, pride within! 

Tiger Rah! 

Tiger Rah! 

We have victory in our sight! 

And the orange Tiger Paw will shine, 

Hail! Hail! Hail! To Clemson might! 

In conclusion, personally I'd give it an 8/10 for the lyrics, not too archaic but not to colloquial, and for the melody, upbeat but not confusing to follow. Honestly, it is a quality fight song, and should be generic, well-known to students and alumni like.
But at Clemson, this wasn't enough to keep "Tiger Rah" in the hearts of Clemson fans, and today if you were to say "Finish this song: Tiger Ra_" almost all Clemson fans would say "Tiger Rag!" This song should be well known to you jazz enthusiasts out there, possibly under the title "Hold That Tiger," which are half of the lyrics to the song. "Hold That Tiger" is one of the most famous jazz songs ever recorded, and was covered by many famous musicians, including Frank Sinatra. The song was written in 1917, and was actually a staple of the LSU band long before the Clemson band even got the idea of including it in their repertoire. But, the LSU version is much more toned down, and kept some of the jazzier aspects of the song. Finally though, in 1942, the song was first introduced to the band, and soon it became the iconic fight song it is today. Notice that the song was introduced in 1942, while "Tiger Rah" was made the official fight song in 1947. But as it says in the rest of the Tigernet.com article about the old fight song, "For the 2013 season, it has been polished off once again, and new, more modern lyrics composed..." meaning that it probably had more archaic lyrics, and it faded into obscurity for quite some time, even though it was the official fight song at one point. What probably happened was that while "Tiger Rag" was on the rise, "Tiger Rah" (I know its confusing the only difference is literally on letter) was on a decline, because "Tiger Rag" is very, very energetic. In fact, Clemson's version of the jazz hit morphed into probably one of the most iconic fight songs in college sports. Even though the lyrics were already a little weak to begin with, the only words really sung, actually shouted, are "C-L-E-M-S-O-N!" The intro actually has words, but they're difficult to fit with the melody (I've tried many times), and the rest of the lyrics have the complexity of a broken record for toddlers. These are the lyrics to the intro:

Long ago way down in the jungle 

Someone got an inspiration for a tune 

And that jingle came from the jungle 

Became famous mighty soon 

Thrills and chills it sends through you 

Hot so hot it burns you too 

Though it's just the growl of the Tiger 

It was written in a syncopated way 

More and more they yell for the Tiger 

Everywhere you go today, they're shoutin: 

The use of visual imagery is intense, but here's the iconic (and lyrically weak) chorus:

Where's that Tiger? 

Where's that Tiger? 

Where's that Tiger? 

Where's that Tiger? 

Hold that Tiger! 

Hold that Tiger! 

Hold that Tiger! 

C-L-E-M-S-O...N! 

But sometimes, as happened here, the lyrics are ignored in favor of an amazingly energetic melody. Even if you aren't impressed with the lyrics, it's hard to deny that "Tiger Rag" is one of the most spirited fight songs out there. It probably gets some of that spirit from its jazz roots, or from the fact that the song is usually introduced, in a booming voice, as "THE SONG THAT SHAKES THE SOUTHLAND." Also, the fact that a marching band uses a jazz song is a bit ironic too because marching bands are uniform and systematic while jazz bands are more impromptu and free-spirited. Regardless, "Tiger Rag" is still a great fight song: the rhythmic pounding of the drums and the energetic melody have made it a staple fight song at Clemson, and if one listens to it, or sees it in action, you can understand why; why it is so beloved by Tiger fans, and why it overtook "Tiger Rah" over the years. Overall, I'd rate it as an 8.9/10, just because I'm a fan of lyrics, but I appreciate how hype it is. 

Not all fight songs were originally written as fight songs, but they become fight songs through their usage and because they just seem to fit. "Tiger Rag" is one of those songs. It may not make Shakespeare weeps tears of joy, or humble Louis Armstrong, but it sure does lift the spirits of those Tigers from South Carolina.