Yea Alabama!

"Yea Alabama" is the official fight song for the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide athletics teams. It was composed by Crimson White editor Ethelred "Epp" Sykes in 1926 in response to a contest sponsored by the Rammer-Jammer humor magazine.

Through the 1925 season, the school used the popular "Washington and Lee Swing" as its fight song. That year, the football team was invited to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and defeated the Washington Huskies 20-19. Afterward, the Rammer-Jammer held a contest for a new fight song or "battle march". More than 12 were submitted, from which Sykes's entry was favored by a panel of judges from the music department.

The song was published in the May 1926 issue of the Rammer-Jammer, whose editors encouraged its use at every fitting occasion and its acceptance by the student body. It was accepted and has been used ever since. Sykes retained the copyright until donating it to the University in 1947.

Lyrics

Let the Sewanee Tiger scratch, Let the Yellow Jacket sting,
Let the Georgia Bulldog bite,
Alabama still is right!
And whether win or lose we smile,
For that's Bama's fighting style:
You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide!
A-L-A-B-A-M-A
Chorus:
Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man's behind you,
Hit your stride.
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave.
And if a man starts to weaken,
That's his shame!
For Bama's pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson flame.
Fight on, fight on, fight on men!
Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then.
(So) Roll on to victory,
Hit your stride,
You're Dixie's football pride,
Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!

Recordings

In addition to several recordings by Alabama's Million Dollar Band (link), a Dixieland version of "Yea, Alabama" was recorded by Percy Faith for his 1950 "Football Songs" album. That version was re-used as the theme for the "Bear Bryant Show".