The Cougar Song

"The Cougar Song," often colloquially referred to as "The Cougar Fight Song," "The BYU Fight Song," or "Rise and Shout, The Cougars Are Out," is the school fight song of Brigham Young University. It is often played at BYU sporting events, especially at BYU football games, and is popular with both students and alumni. On these occasions it is traditional for the fans to remain seated, singing along with the verse, then literally "rise and shout" the chorus and chant.

Clyde D. Sandgren
Born	September 5, 1910(1910-09-05) Provo, Utah
Died	December 21, 1989(1989-12-21) Provo, Utah
Alma mater	Brigham Young University St. John's University School of Law

History

The song was composed by Clyde D. Sandgren, a 1932 BYU graduate. Clyde later served at BYU as general counsel, a vice president, and for four years as the Alumni Association president. He died in 1989 and left ownership of the song to his son, Clyde D. Sandgren, Jr. (Dee). Only Dee and BYU have the rights to the song.^[1]

In 1947, Clyde Sandgren registered The Cougar Song with the U.S. Copyright Office, and renewed the work's copyright registration in 1975. The song was dedicated by its composer especially "To all BYU students who so valiantly served their country in World War II."^[2]

The Cougar Song is not the only college song BYU has had in its history. In 1899 Annie Pike Greenwood wrote "The College Song," which for many years stood as the school's main song until The Cougar Song was written. Even afterwards, the song was still sung at alumni and other functions.

The lyrics, as sung at BYU events, were altered from the original version sometime in the 1990s due to pressure from women's groups on BYU campus. The lyric "stalwart men and true" was changed to "Loyal, strong, and true."^[3]

Song Lyrics

O Rise, all loyal Cougars and hurl your challenge to the foe.
You will fight, day or night, rain or snow.
Loyal, Strong, and True
Wear the White and Blue.
While we sing, get set to spring.
Come on Cougars, it's up to you!

CHORUS:
O Rise and Shout, the Cougars are out
Along the trail to fame and glory.
Rise and shout, our cheers will ring out,
As you unfold your vict'ry story.
On you go to vanquish the foe
For Alma Mater's sons and daughters.
As we join in song, in praise of you, our faith is strong.
We'll raise our colors high in the blue,
And cheer the Cougars of BYU.

CHANT:
"Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra (3x) GO COUGARS!"

• [2] "The Cougar Song" as performed by the BYU Marching Band (MP3)

Parody

Musicians have created humorous instrumentals such as "Variations on the Cougar Fight Song," which demonstrates the tune in waltz time, ragtime and other odd variants.

Other Songs Composed by Sandgren

Clyde D. Sandgren composed "The Old Y Bell," sung at the original dedication of the Victory Bell on BYU's upper campus and later played at the dedication of Provo City Library at Academy Square in 2001. Additionally, Sandgren penned "Hail, Rotary!" for Rotary International and school songs for Timpview High School, Orem High School, Provo High School, and Utah Valley Community College (now Utah Valley University). He also composed the fight song for St. John's University (where Sandgren received his law degree).

References

1. ^ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Nation - Owner won't sell BYU fight song
2. ^ Cheer Anew for the BYU
3. ^ [1]

External links

• [3] Lyrics of "The Cougar Song" and "College Song" at BYU]
• [4] "The Cougar Song" as performed by the BYU Marching Band (MP3)

Persondata
Name	Cougar Song
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1910-09-05
Place of birth	Provo, Utah
Date of death	1989-12-21
Place of death	Provo, Utah