Cal Songs
Lights Out
Written in 1909 by Earl Elleson McCoy, Robert N. Fitch; arranged by Robert O. Briggs.
© UC Regents. All Rights Reserved.
Sound Clip (with Hail to California Fanfare): MP3 (2191 KB)
(Cal Band unofficial words to Lights Out -- written during the 1976 Tour)
We left on our fabulous tour,
But the heat made it hard to endure.
Although, the sun is still here,
The oncoming rain is a pain in the rear,
Or maybe our ---
Don't you know that it's hard to do a show
When you're up to your knees in slimy green mud?
But you know the Band will persevere,
Surviving on sweat! and guts! and blood!
Oh, can't you see the crowd will roar tonight,
As the Cal Marching Band, that's the best in the land,
Will come through, damn right!
(Begin Fight for California)
Our sturdy Golden Bear...
In 1906 Earl Elleson McCoy, a student at the University of Illinois, wrote the "Lights Out March" and dedicated it to the commander of his R.O.T.C. unit. "Fight for California" is simply the trio and break strain of the "Lights Out March," with an added introduction written by Charles Cushing. Though arguably THE quintessential Cal song, "Fight's" origin is rather uninspiring. Brick Morse tells the story of how the lyrics for "Fight for California" came to be written by Robert Fitch: "One day the Glee Club was fooling around with a tune called 'Lights Out.' Fine for a college song,' said Bob Fitch, 'believe I'll write some words to fit the music.'"
"Lights Out" is traditionally the last song of every Cal Band event. Performing "Lights Out," the Band sings the first verse of "Fight for California" (accompanied by a solo drummer and solo tuba) during the first time through the trio and then resumes playing. Words were written to the first two strains of "Lights Out" to commemorate the joys and hardships of the 1976 Bicentennial Tour.