"Roar, Lion, Roar" is the primary fight song of Columbia University. It was originally titled "Bold Buccaneers" and was written with different lyrics for the 1923 Varsity Show ''Half Moon Inn'' by Columbia undergraduates Corey Ford and Morris W. Watkins, and alumnus

Roy Webb Royden Denslow Webb (October 3, 1888 – December 10, 1982) was an American film music composer. Webb has hundreds of film music credits to his name, mainly with RKO Pictures. He is best known for film noir and horror film scores, in particular f ...

. In order to compete in the Columbia Alumni Federation's contest to find a school fight song the same year, Ford wrote a new set of lyrics that would become "Roar, Lion, Roar". The title references Columbia's mascot, the Columbia Lion.

Lyrics

The original lyrics are: Today the song is almost always performed with only the second stanza.

"Bold Buccaneers"

The 1923 Varsity Show, ''Half Moon Inn'', was based on characters from '' The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.'' by Washington Irving, including Rip Van Winkle and Hendrick Hudson, the historical explorer for whom the Hudson River is named and who discovered Hudson Strait and

Hudson Bay Hudson Bay ( crj, text=ᐐᓂᐯᒄ, translit=Wînipekw; crl, text=ᐐᓂᐹᒄ, translit=Wînipâkw; iu, text=ᑲᖏᖅᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᓗᐊ, translit=Kangiqsualuk ilua or iu, text=ᑕᓯᐅᔭᕐᔪᐊᖅ, translit=Tasiujarjuaq; french: b ...

on his ship, the '' Halve Maen'' ("Half Moon"). The play followed the misadventures of the Columbia crew team, to whom the title "Bold Buccaneers" referred to. The lyrics for "Bold Buccaneers" are as follows:

Performers

* Johnny Long and his Orchestra – ''College Favorites (Volume 2)'' (1947)"Search results for 'roar lion roar"
at WorldCat. Retrieved May 9, 2020. * Lang-Worth Feature Programs (1950?) * Walter Schumann – ''Songs of the Ivy League'' (1951) * Charles Henderson Band and Glee Club – ''Collegiana'' (1960)"Decca Debs Fall 'Rainbow' Release'
Decca 'Rainbow'
. ''The Billboard''. August 1, 1960. Retrieved May 9, 2020. * The Kirby Stone Four – ''Get That Ball'' (1962) *

Annette Funicello Annette Joanne Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013) was an American actress and singer. Funicello began her professional career as a child performer at the age of twelve. She was one of the most popular Mouseketeers on the orig ...

(with

The Wellingtons The Wellingtons are an Australian power pop band from Melbourne, Australia. The band has released four albums, including ''Keeping Up With The Wellingtons'' (2005), ''For Friends in Far Away Places'' (2006), ''Heading North For the Winter'' ...

) – ''Annette on Campus'' (1963) *

Norman Luboff Choir Norman Luboff (May 14, 1917 – September 22, 1987) was an American music arranger, music publisher, and choir director. Early years Norman Luboff was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1917. He studied piano as a child and participated in his high s ...

– ''Go, Team, Go!'' (1964) * William Revelli – ''Kick Off, U.S.A.'' (1964) *

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is an American choir, acting as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for ov ...

– ''Hail to the Victors!'' (1978)

References

External links

Lyrics to song
from the Columbia University Library Ivy League fight songs Columbia Lions Culture of Columbia University American college songs {{NewYork-sport-stub