FSU Hymns

The following are the alma mater, hymn, and fight song of Florida State University.

Alma Mater - "High O'er Towering Pines"
High o'er the towering pines our voices swell, Praising those Gothic spires, we love so well. Here sons and daughters stand, faithful and true, Hailing our alma mater, F.S.U.

"Hymn To the Garnet and Gold"
J. Dayton Smith's "The Hymn to the Garnet and the Gold" was arranged by Charlie Carter in 1958 as an ending to the Homecoming show, and the traditions associated with the hymn began. While this song did not make it as the official alma mater it still is sung in reverence by those at FSU and is performed by the Marching Chiefs after every game.

Lyrics: Here's a hymn to the garnet and the gold, ringing to the sky. Here's a song for the men and women bold, sing with heads held high. Striving e'er to seek to know, fight for victory. Alma mater, this our song to you echoes "F. S. U."

"FSU Fight Song"
The 1950 Homecoming half-time show included a dedication ceremony naming the stadium in honor of university President Doak Campbell. There was also a special performance by the band, christening it the Marching Chiefs and premiering the "FSU Fight Song." Student Doug Alley wrote the lyrics to the fight song as a poem which appeared in the Florida Flambeau and Thomas(Tommy) Wright saw them and wrote a melody to it.

Thomas Wright grants rights to the song in exchange for two season tickets every year.

Fifty years later, the FSU Fight Song is one of the most widely recognized college tunes in the country. Mission Control used the Fight Song to awaken alumnus and current professor Norm Thagard one morning in 1983 while he was aboard the Challenger spacecraft. Lyrics: You got to fight, fight, fight, for FSU! You got to scalp 'em Seminoles! You got to win, win, win, win this game, and roll on down and make those goals! For FSU is on the warpath now, And when the battle ends she's great! So fight, fight, fight for victory!, The Seminoles of Florida State! F-L-O-R-I-D-A S-T-A-T-E Florida State, Florida State, Florida State!