The Victors Is Written
Michigan music student Louis Elbel writes the words and music to The Victors.
A Michigan Tradition
The Victors
The University of Michigan's Iconic Fight Song
Written 1898
A Michigan Tradition
The Story
The Story
Behind the Song
The Victors is the University of Michigan fight song and one of the most recognizable college fight songs in the country.
Michigan's famous fight song, The Victors, was written in November 1898. Louis Elbel, a music student at the University, wrote the words and music in celebration of a last-minute 12-11 Michigan victory over rival Chicago, giving U-M its first Western Conference football championship.
By spring 1899, The Victors was already being performed in Ann Arbor. On April 6, the Michigan Daily reported a rousing performance of the song by a band led by Louis Elbel himself. Two days later, on April 8, John Philip Sousa's band performed the march in Ann Arbor, where it received an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Best college march ever written.
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View Historic Sheet Music
The Victors
Press play and follow along with one of the most recognizable fight songs in college athletics.
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Read Full Lyrics
The Lyrics
Hail! to the Victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
The Leaders and Best
Hail! to the Victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
The Champions of the West!
Sing It From the Stands
Full Lyrics
01
Now for a cheer they are here, triumphant!
Here they come with banners flying,
In stalwart step they're nighing,
With shouts of vict'ry crying,
We hurrah, hurrah, we greet you now,
Hail!
02
Far we their praises sing
For the glory and fame they've bro't us
Loud let the bells them ring
For here they come with banners flying
Far we their praises tell
For the glory and fame they've bro't us
Loud let the bells them ring
For here they come with banners flying
Here they come, Hurrah!
03
Hail! to the Victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
The Leaders and Best
Hail! to the Victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
The Champions of the West!
04
We cheer them again
We cheer and cheer again
For Michigan, we cheer for Michigan
We cheer with might and main
We cheer, cheer, cheer
With might and main we cheer!
More Than a Century of Tradition
How a Michigan Tradition Began
A Championship Victory
Michigan defeats Chicago to claim its first Western Conference football championship.
Sousa Performs The Victors
John Philip Sousa's band performs The Victors in Ann Arbor on April 8, helping add to the song's growing popularity.
Earliest Recording
Hear an early recording of the University of Michigan Band performing The Victors.
Michigan Marching Band
A Tradition of Its Own
In November 1896, the University of Michigan Band held its first rehearsal. The newly formed band gave its first public performance in 1897 at old University Hall.
The band's first appearance on a football field came in the fall of 1898 -- the same year The Victors was written.
Watch
125 Years of The Victors
Michigan Song
The Yellow and Blue
The University of Michigan's official alma mater predates The Victors. Charles Mills Gayley wrote the lyrics in the 1880s, with the melody adapted from music by Michael William Balfe.
Sing to the colors that float in the light;
Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue!
Yellow the stars as they ride through the night
And reel in a rollicking crew;
Yellow the field where ripens the grain
And yellow the moon on the harvest wain;
Hail!
Blue are the billows that bow to the sun
When yellow-robed morning is due.
Blue are the curtains that evening has spun
The slumbers of Phoebus to woo;
Blue are the blossoms to memory dear
And blue is the sapphire and gleams like a tear;
Hail!
Here's to the college whose colors we wear,
Here's to the hearts that are true!
Here's to the maid of the golden hair,
And eyes that are brimming with blue!
Garlands of bluebells and maize intertwine,
And hearts that are true and voices combine;
Hail!
Hail! Hail!
To Michigan
