The Sound of Victory: A History of UCLA's Fight Songs
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) boasts a rich tradition of spirited fight songs that ignite Bruin pride at athletic events. These songs, along with alma maters and other ceremonial anthems, play a vital role in fostering school spirit and celebrating the university's heritage. From the historic "Sons of Westwood" to the contemporary "Mighty Bruins," UCLA's musical repertoire reflects its evolution and enduring athletic spirit.
The Need for a Distinct Bruin Anthem
For many years, UCLA shared a fight song with its northern counterpart, the University of California, Berkeley. UCLA’s version was known as "Sons of Westwood." However, alumni grew weary of hearing the same tune at every touchdown, especially during UCLA vs. Berkeley matchups. This shared anthem sparked ethical and legal questions, particularly regarding copyright. A 1969 inquiry to the Library of Congress revealed that the song was never copyrighted, settling the legal dispute.
Early Attempts at a Unique Identity
Before "Mighty Bruins" and "Sons of Westwood" gained prominence, UCLA experimented with several other fight songs, including:
- "Sing U.C.L.A."
- "By the Old Pacific's Rolling Waters" (simply known as "By")
- "Team, Hear our Song"
- "Fight on Men of Westwood" (simply known as "Fight")
"Fight on Men of Westwood" used the tune of "Fight on, Pennsylvania!", the fight song of the University of Pennsylvania, and was written by David B. Zoob.
"By the Old Pacific's Rolling Waters," composed in 1922 by Thomas Vickers ‘Vic’ Beall ’26, served as UCLA’s main fight song until "Sons of Westwood" overtook it in 1962.
Read also: UCLA vs. Illinois: Basketball History
The Rise of "Sons of Westwood"
The tune for "Sons of Westwood" originated from "Big C," a fight song of the University of California, Berkeley, composed in 1913 by Harold P. Williams with lyrics by Norman Loyall McLaren. "Big C" was written to commemorate the construction of the large concrete "C" on the Berkeley campus foothills in 1905.
From the late 1940s until the 1960s, UCLA and Cal hosted a college football doubleheader game as part of the "All University Weekend." In one of the last "All U Weekends", Kelly James, then associate director of the UCLA Marching Band and alumnus of the Cal Band, wrote an arrangement of "Big C" for a halftime show performed by the combined marching bands from UCLA, UC Davis, and Cal. Afterward, UCLA continued using James' arrangement of "Big C" as its fight song, adding their own lyrics and renaming it "Sons of Westwood."
Cal fans, most notably Cal band director James Berdahl, were enraged over James' theft of their song. A bitter exchange ensued between Berdahl and James for the next several years concerning the legal and ethical grounds for James' adaptation of the song.
Despite the controversy, "Sons of Westwood" became a staple at UCLA games. The UCLA Bruin Marching Band plays the song as part of their football pregame show as they move into the script UCLA formation. When sung, usually at the end of a game, the UCLA Band plays the song the first time, followed by the UCLA 8-clap. The first two lines are sung in 34 time. The singers wrap arms around their neighbors' shoulders and sway in time to the music. After the "Fight! Fight!"
"Mighty Bruins": An Original Anthem is Born
In 1984, the UCLA Alumni Association commissioned a new, original fight song to commemorate its 50th anniversary. This decision aimed to provide UCLA with its own distinct musical identity, separate from UC Berkeley.
Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA
The Alumni Association sponsored a contest soliciting lyrics from students and alumni, with a $1,000 prize for the winning composition. Alumni Barbara Lamb (class of 1966) and Don Holley (class of 1984) won the contest, and their lyrics were combined by composer Bill Conti. Conti, an Academy Award-winning composer, wrote the music to "Mighty Bruins" and conducted the UCLA marching band for the song's debut in 1984 at the Stanford football game.
"Mighty Bruins" serves as the official fight song for the athletic teams of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The composition adopts an upbeat, marching band style that energizes crowds at sports events, making it a staple for performances by the 250-member UCLA Bruin Marching Band during football games and other rallies.
Analyzing the Lyrics and Their Impact
The lyrics of "Mighty Bruins," consist of two verses followed by a rhythmic chant designed to rally crowds. Thematically, the lyrics emphasize institutional pride through declarations of superiority as "the best team in the West," evoking a sense of regional Western identity tied to UCLA's location and athletic heritage. They also highlight themes of conquest and triumph, with imagery of marching to victory and an enduring roar symbolizing unstoppable momentum and communal strength.
The structure of the lyrics is notably simple and repetitive, with parallel phrasing in the verses ("We are the Mighty Bruins") to facilitate group participation.
A key tradition involves the band playing the fight song-incorporating "The Mighty Bruins" as its rousing chorus-on first downs during football games, prompting fans in the student section (The Den) and throughout the stadium to join in with the iconic 8-clap cheer: "U-C-L-A, Fight! Fight!" The band further integrates "The Mighty Bruins" into halftime shows at these events, showcasing choreographed formations that highlight UCLA's athletic spirit and engage spectators in collective participation.
Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors
Other Musical Traditions at UCLA
In addition to fight songs, UCLA's musical traditions include alma maters and ceremonial anthems. These songs emphasize institutional pride, nostalgia, and communal unity rather than the competitive energy of athletic fight songs. These compositions are typically performed at commencements, formal gatherings, and post-event reflections to honor the university's heritage and foster a sense of enduring loyalty among alumni and students.
- "Hail Blue and Gold": Composed in 1925, this was the official alma mater for over three decades, symbolizing the university's blue and gold colors.
- "Hail to the Hills of Westwood": Written by alumna Jeane Margaret Emerson in 1959, this is UCLA's current official alma mater. Performed with outstretched "V" gestures signifying victory and unity, it is sung at graduations, memorials, and the conclusion of athletic events to invoke lasting allegiance to the university. Traditionally, outstretched fingers in the form of a “V” should be held high over the head while singing the alma mater after sporting events.
- "Hail to California": This piece celebrates the statewide UC heritage and is occasionally performed by UCLA glee clubs to affirm roots in the Golden State, evoking unity across campuses without the combative tone of sports anthems.
tags: #ucla #fight #song #lyrics #history
