The Granite of New Hampshire:



Baker Library

this weekend is the Tour of Granite Country. And so the tangential thinking has had me singing and thinking about the Granite State, New Hampshire. And our Alma Mater song...

(Dartmouth College)

(Redirected from Men of Dartmouth)

The "Alma Mater"[1] is the official school song of Dartmouth College, an Ivy League university located in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. It was officially adopted by the College in 1926.[2] Richard Hovey of the class of 1885 wrote the original lyrics in 1894, titling the song "Men of Dartmouth".[3] On May 28, 1988 (About the same day I graduated), Dartmouth changed the title and words to reflect the presence of women as part of the College, since Dartmouth had become coeducational in 1972.[1][4] The transition generated significant controversy at the time from students and alumni wishing to maintain the original lyrics,[1] attracting national attention.[5][6][7] The use of the original version by some fraternities and men's..and women's might i add.. sports teams continues to fuel debate as of 2007.[8] ( I have my opinion on this...as the college was founded by men, it doesnt take away anything from the women that attend or have attended since Dartmouth went co-ed.) Songs written after 1972 sure should be "We of Dartmouth," but for this version dont butcher it with words that weren't relevant in 1894. Respect that this song had meaning then, and write a new one. Just dont try to manipulate history so it is PC now. Men is replaced with "We" and the sons is replaced with ...some version of "We" as well.

[edit] Hovey's original lyrics
Men of Dartmouth, give a rouse
For the College on the hill!
For the Lone Pine above her,
And the loyal sons who love her,
Give a rouse, give a rouse, with a will!
For the sons of old Dartmouth,
The sturdy sons of Dartmouth,
Tho' 'round the girdled earth they roam,
Her spell on them remains;
They have the still North in their hearts,
The hill-winds in their veins,
And the granite of New Hampshire
In their muscles and their brains;
And the granite of New Hampshire
In their muscles and their brains.
They were mighty men of old
That she nurtured at her side;
Till like Vikings they went forth
From the lone and silent North,
And they strove, and they wrought, and they died;
But the sons of old Dartmouth,
The laurelled sons of Dartmouth,
The Mother keeps them in her heart
And guides their altar flame;
The still North remembers them,
The hill-winds know their name,
And the granite of New Hampshire
Keeps the record of their fame;
And the granite of New Hampshire
Keeps the record of their fame.
Men of Dartmouth, set a watch
Lest the old traditions fail!
Stand as brother stands by brother!
Dare a deed for the old Mother!
Greet the world, from the hills, with a hail!
For the sons of old Dartmouth,
The loyal sons of Dartmouth,
Around the world they keep for her
Their old chivalric faith;
They have the still North in their soul,
The hill-winds in their breath;
And the granite of New Hampshire
Is made part of them till death;
And the granite of New Hampshire
Is made part of them till death.

From the Dartmouth Song Book (6th ed., 1950).

Have fun weekends y'all.