"Hail Purdue!" is the official

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 ...

Purdue University Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and money ...

. The lyrics were written in about 1912 by James R. Morrison (class of 1915), and set to music by Edward S. Wotawa (class of 1912). The completed song was published in 1913, initially titled "Purdue War Song", and was dedicated to the

Purdue Varsity Glee Club The Purdue Varsity Glee Club is one of the principal vocal groups of Purdue University. It sings a wide variety of music comprising novelty, patriotic, classical, inspirational, jazz, pop, and barbershop genres. The group currently consists of roug ...

, of which Wotawa was a student member and director. Until the adoption of the Purdue Hymn as university anthem in 1993, it frequently served as both fight song and alma mater, being played on ceremonial occasions such as commencements. During the

rest Rest or REST may refer to: Relief from activity * Sleep ** Bed rest * Kneeling * Lying (position) * Sitting * Squatting position Structural support * Structural support ** Rest (cue sports) ** Armrest ** Headrest ** Footrest Arts and entert ...

following the lyric, "Thus we raise our song anew", it is popular to raise one fist and shout, "Boiler up!". This chant was invented by Arnette Tiller early in her husband's time as Purdue's head football coach (1997–2008).Markham, Eric (November 21, 2008)
"Sitting down with Arnette Tiller"
''The Purdue Exponent Tailgate Guide''. p. 2. Accessed March 17, 2012. The

Purdue All-American Marching Band The Purdue "All-American" Marching Band (or AAMB) is the marching band of Purdue University and the main source of auxiliary entertainment for Purdue Boilermakers football games. The AAMB is also the official band of the Indianapolis 500 race, hav ...

interjects, "Fire up!" at the same point in the song, as they have traditionally done since the mid-1970s.

Music

References

External links

"Hail Purdue!" and soundclips to other songs performed by the Purdue University Bands
{{authority control American college songs College fight songs in the United States Big Ten Conference fight songs Purdue Boilermakers 1913 songs