School Songs

These are some of the song lyrics used by the student body and student groups over time.

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College Song

by Melba Watson, Class of 1933

Lift your voice in praise
Of our beloved Alma Mater;
Loud the anthem raise
To East Carolina Teachers College.
Honor and adore
The school of which we sing so proudly,
We'll uphold her ever.
Her praises ring.

Chorus:
Hail to our dear college,
Loyal ever we will be;
Keep her colors flying always,
Proudly brave and free.
Dear old Teachers College,
East Carolina sings your praise,
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!

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Alma Mater

by Harold McDougle, 1940 Student Handbook

Two new college songs, "Alma Mater" and "Purple and Gold" were introducted to the students at the regular chapel period Tuesday, March 7. The former, "Alma Mater," was written and arranged by Harold A. McDougal, director of instrumental music at Greenville High School, a student at East Carolina Teachers College. "Purple and Gold, a pep song, was written by Dean C. Tabor, head of the Music Department at ECTC, and arranged for the band by Spence Hatley. "McDougal, Tabor Compose Songs" Teco Echo, March 10, 1939.

Praise to your name so fair,
Dear old East Carolina.
Your joys we'll all share
And your friends we'll ever be.
We pledge our loyalty,
And our hearts devotion.
To thee our Alma Mater,
Love and praise.

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Purple and Gold

by Dean Tabor

Marching onward, straight down the field we go
Marching forward proudly to meet the foe.
Halting never--forward forever.
For we're marching to victory.

Chorus:
For when the sons and daughters of East Carolina
March with shoulders pressed close together,
That's a certain sign there's always fair weather
For our colors, the purple and the gold.

For when we're marching forward,
Keep close together,
Heads up high, through any old weather;
For our college teams we're marching together,
Heading straight down the field to victory.

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Emerson Literary Society Song

Sung to the tune Clayton's Grand March

Oh, Emerson Society,
Dear old White and Blue,
For you our hearts beat merrily,
As we sing this song to you;
For when we see our colors there,
Blue and white, everywhere
We know that they mean only you
And all you hold so true.
So, here we are, the Emersons,
Boosting for our clan.
Oh, Emerson, oh Emerson,
For you we'll always stand.

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Lanier Society Song

Let us sing a song of praise to our society,
Hail to the thee, oh, Sidney Lanier!
Loyal members ever proving your sobriety
Tho' our fun to us e'er will be dear.
Then let us to our banner each a tribute pay,
Let us ever our motto uphold,
Always faithful, true, and loyal, to thee night and day,
Hurrah for the green and gold!
Hurrah for the green and gold!

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Poe Society Song

Oh Edgar, Oh Edgar Allan!
We are the Edgar Allan Poes.
We are the Society,
Choice and picked variety.
Oh Edgar, Oh Edgar Allan!
March on!March on!
Beneath the red and white,
For we will conquer all our foes,
And we're sure to win in every fight.