Someone asked me the other day if the San Francico 49ers had a fight song. Assuring the questioner that they certainly did need one, I dragged out some of my memorabilia to display the accompanying song sheet. I do not know if this is an "official," NFL-approved fight song, but here it is. The song was written by Martin Judnich in 1952 and published two years later. (Yes, son, there was a football team called the 49ers before Joe Montana came to town.)
It is also reported that during the days when the team was playing at Kezar a group of local and loyal musicians would break into song with "San Francisco," the tune from the 1930s movie of the same name and made popular by Tony Bennett.
By the way, the 49er cartoon character was used on all the 49er promotion stuff during this period. The "Official 49er Majorette" on the cover is Pat Maulden. It wasn't until the NFL mandated teams to have them in the 1980s when the 'Niners started featuring cheerleaders, to satisfy the television broadcasters.
You can listen to the 49ers Fight Song as played by The National Football League Marching Band -- no lyrics -- on:
I am not sure you'll like it much as it doesn't seem to have much rhythm, even though it also is labeled "Football Polka."
Here's the lyrics (maybe someone out there will have the capability of matching them to the music):
"This is our football fight song, It has some cheering words
If you want fancy singing we leave that to the birds
And while our band is playing we sing it for the foe
And when our gang starts driving we yell GO-GO-GO-GO!
1. When our band plays football tempo, All the fans will cheer and sing
So when our team is fighting to go, You will hear our voices ring
We all know our team fights for us, And the fans do want some fun
We soon will loudly sing the chorus, While the foe is on the run.
2. Let's sing the good old Football Polka, While we shout GO-GO-GO-GO!
We cheer our team of Alma Mater, While they GO-GO-GO-GO-GO!
Our gang shall drive and keep on rolling, And across the goal they'll go
Let's sing the good old Football Polka, While we GO-GO-GO-GO-GO!
3. Let's sing the Forty Niner's Fight Song, While we shout GO-GO-GO-GO!
We cheer our team of San Francisco, While they GO-GO-GO-GO-GO!
Our gang shall drive and keep on rolling, And across the goal they'll go
Let's sing the Forty Niner's Fight Song, While we GO-GO-GO-GO-GO!"
--by Martin Judnich, 1952
What more can I say?
3 comments:
I am a huge Niners fan. Even went to Super Bowl 16. My family has rooted for them going back to my Grandparents. I must say, this is the weakest fight song I have ever seen. I am glad they don't play it at the games. I'd hate to hear it as apposed to "Hail to the Redskins". I hope I never see a resurgence of this song at the games. They need to add another line to this song. "This fight song should GO GO GO" and never come back.
You got that right, Skrufee. I tried to listen to it on the provided website and it made my hair hurt. And you are correct about the Redskins song -- that's a good one. There don't seem to be any NFL teams that have a good song. Now college . . . that's a different matter. Thanks for responding to the initial post.
-Mike
There is a recording from 1985 with the San Fransisco Gay Men's Chorus singing the lyric along with the NFL Marching Band. You can here it (with images of the album cover in the video) at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_5m9TJswk0
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