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Bow Down to Washington

{{Short description|Fight song for University of Washington}}

{{Italic title}}

{{use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox musical composition

| name = Bow Down to Washington

| written = Lester J. Wilson

| client = The Daily

| image =

| key =

| catalogue =

| year = 1915

| genre = Fight song

| scoring =

| composed =

| performed = November 6, 1915

| published = November 13, 1915

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = song

| header = Recordings

| file = File:Bow Down to Washington — Vic Meyers and His Hotel Butler Orchestra.flac

| description = Vic Meyers and His Hotel Butler Orchestra (1928)

}}

}}

Bow Down to Washington is the official fight song of the University of Washington. It was written by Lester J. Wilson in 1915 while partaking in a competition requesting a new song for the university. The competition was sponsored by the campus newspaper, The Daily, and had a grand prize of US$25 (the equivalent of $655 in 2021).

"Bow Down to Washington" was first used as a fight song at the Washington-California football game on November 6, 1915, in a 72–0 away victory.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9LnC5JuQrk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/I9LnC5JuQrk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live| title= Bow Down to Washington | publisher=UWTV | access-date=2015-09-26}}{{cbignore}} The lyrics were first published one week later in the home program for the November 13, 1915 contest at Denny Field, again versus California. The original lyrics refer frequently to California and snaring the Golden Bear, but later versions of the song dropped these lines.

The song is typically played and sung at all University of Washington sporting events at which the University of Washington Husky Marching Band is present, including all football, basketball, and volleyball games.

Lyrics

{{quote|Bow Down to Washington, Bow Down to Washington.

Mighty are the men who wear the Purple and the Gold,

Joyfully we welcome them within the Victor's fold.

We will carve our name in the Hall of Fame,

To preserve the memory of our Devotion.

So, heaven help the foes of Washington,

They're trembling at the feet of mighty Washington.

Our boys are there with bells, their fighting blood excels,

It's harder to push them over the lines than pass the Dardanelles.

So Victory's the cry of Washington

Our leather lungs together with a Rah! Rah! Rah!

And o'er the land, the loyal band

Will sing the glory of Washington forever!}}

References

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web |title=Bow Down to Washington — UW Music Library Special Collections |publisher=University of Washington Libraries |url=https://www.lib.washington.edu/music/specialcollections/bow-down-to-washington |access-date=December 5, 2012}}

{{cite magazine |magazine=University of Washington Football Programs |title=Souvenir program, football game : University of Washington vs. University of California, Saturday, November 13, 1915, Denny Field, Seattle, Washington |publisher=University of Washington Associated Students |url=https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/pioneerlife/id/5519/rec/ |date=November 13, 1915 |access-date=January 24, 2022 |location=Seattle, Washington |page=26}}

{{cite news |last=Marmor |first=Jon |date=September 2001 |title=A contest and a whim inspired UW’s fight song |url=https://magazine.washington.edu/a-contest-and-a-whim-inspired-uws-fight-song/ |work=Columns |access-date=January 19, 2024}}

{{cite news |last=Borland |first=Lynn |date=December 2014 |title=The birth of ‘Bow Down to Washington’ — One of the best fight songs of all time turns 100 in 2015. |url=https://magazine.washington.edu/feature/the-birth-of-bow-down-to-washington/ |work=Columns |access-date=January 19, 2024}}

{{cite news |last=Caple |first=Jim |date=October 24, 2018 |title='It’s harder to push them over the line than pass the Dardanelles': The history behind 'Bow Down to Washington' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/609213/2018/10/24/its-harder-to-push-them-over-the-line-than-pass-the-dardanelles-the-history-behind-bow-down-to-washington/ |work=The Athletic |access-date=January 19, 2024}}

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Category:Big Ten Conference fight songs

Category:University of Washington

Category:1915 songs

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