"Fight On" is the
fight song
A fight song is a rousing short song associated with a sports team. The term is most common in the United States and Canada. In Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand these songs are called the team anthem, team song, or games song. First associated ...
of the
University of Southern California
, mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it"
, religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist
, established =
, accreditation = WSCUC
, type = Private research university
, academic_affiliations =
, endowment = $8.1 ...
. It was composed in 1922 by USC dental student, Milo Sweet, with lyrics by Sweet and Glen Grant, for a student spirit competition. The song is played at all USC sports competitions, as well as many other USC related events, by the
Spirit of Troy
The USC Trojan Marching Band, also known as the Spirit of Troy, represents the University of Southern California (USC) at various collegiate sports, broadcast, popular music recording, and national public appearance functions.
The Spirit of ...
, the USC Marching Band.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, the song was used to inspire combat-bound troops in the
Aleutians Campaign. According to legend, it was played off the deck of a transport carrying American soldiers onto the beach of a Japanese-held island; the troops let out a roar when they heard the song and eventually captured the island.
Trojan Marching Band Press Pack, p. 16
. 2009.
The term, "Fight On", is also used as a battle cry for USC fans.
Like many other college fight songs, "Fight On" is used by many high schools throughout the United States, though often with modified lyrics.
References
External links
{{Pac-10 Fight Songs
Pac-12 Conference fight songs
Traditions at the University of Southern California
American college songs