The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way

The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way is the fight song of the University of South Carolina. It was adapted from the musical number "Step to the Rear" in the Broadway show "How Now, Dow Jones" and the lyrics were written by Gamecocks football coach Paul Dietzel.

History

USC band director James Pritchard obtained a band arrangement of the song "Step to the Rear" from the Broadway musical "How Now, Dow Jones" in 1968 and the marching band played the song at the first game of the 1968 season. It caught the ear of Coach Paul Dietzel who contacted Prichard about making it the official fight song of the University to replace the original fight song, "Carolina Let Your Voices Ring". Dietzel wrote the lyrics for the song, but asked that he remain anonymous because knowledge that the football coach wrote the lyrics might render it unacceptable to the basketball program. The song was officially introduced on November 16, 1968 prior to the football game against Virginia Tech. [ [http://www.sc.edu/library/music/Fightsong_coll.htm#fightinggamecocks The Music Library at The University of South Carolina ] ]

Lyrics

:"Hey, Let's give a cheer, Carolina is here,:"The Fighting Gamecocks lead the way.

:"Who gives a care, If the going gets tough,:"And when it is rough, that's when the 'Cocks get going.

:"Hail to our colors of garnet and Black,:"In Carolina pride have we.

:"So, Go Gamecocks Go - FIGHT!:"Drive for the goal - FIGHT!:"USC will win today - GO COCKS!:"So, let's give a cheer, Carolina is here.:"The Fighting Gamecocks All The Way!

References

External links

* [http://www.sc.edu/usc/fightsong.html University of South Carolina Fight Song Lyrics]
* [http://www.sc.edu/library/music/Fightsong_coll.htm University of South Carolina Music Library Special Collection of Gamecock Fight Songs]