UCLA History: Songs

"Hail to the Hills of Westwood"

Hail to the hills of Westwood,
To the mighty sea below;
Hail to our Alma Mater,
She will conquer every foe.
For we’re loyal to the Southland,
Her honor we’ll uphold;
We’ll gladly give our hearts to thee,
To the Blue and to the Gold.

About the Song
UCLA and UC Berkeley shared an alma mater until 1925, when a UCLA student wrote a song called “Hail Blue and Gold.” The song remained UCLA’s official alma mater until 1960, when students formally objected to the reference of UCLA as the “California of the South.”

“Hail to the Hills of Westwood,” written by Jeane Emerson ’29, replaced the earlier song and is the alma mater Bruins sing today. Traditionally, outstretched fingers in the form of a “V” should be held high over the head while singing the alma mater after sporting events. The “V” represents victory.

"The Mighty Bruins"

We are the Mighty Bruins,
The best team in the West.
We’re marching on to victory,
To conquer all the rest.
We are the Mighty Bruins,
Triumphant evermore.
You can hear from far and near,
The Mighty Bruin roar!
U! (3 claps)
C! (3 claps)
L! (3 claps)
A! (3 claps)
U-C-L-A! Fight! Fight! Fight!

About the Song
To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the UCLA Alumni Association commissioned a new fight song. After a contest soliciting lyrics from students and alumni, Academy Award-winning composer Bill Conti chose the winning lyrics (from Barbara Lamb ’66 and Don Holley ’84) and wrote the music to “Mighty Bruins.” The song made its gridiron debut in fall 1984 at the Stanford football game, with Conti conducting the UCLA Marching Band.

"Rover"

We’re looking over our dead dog, Rover,
That we overran tonight (all right!)
One leg is broken, the other is bent,
And in his head, there’s a great big dent.
No need explaining the parts remaining
Are scattered all over the court (next page).
We’re looking over our dead dog, Rover,
That we overran tonight!

About the Song
In the late ’60s, a band student wrote lyrics to a popular tune being played during football games, “I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover.” The UCLA song was retitled “Rover.” At the height of the legendary John Wooden era, “Rover” was played only after lopsided basketball victories, which were virtually every game. Now, “Rover” is played after all UCLA victories immediately following the alma mater.

"The Sons of Westwood"

We are Sons of Westwood,
And we hail the Blue and Gold;
True to thee our hearts will be, Our love will not grow old.
Bruins roam the hills of Westwood,
By the blue Pacific shore;
And when they chance to see a man from USC,
Ev’ry Bruin starts to roar.
U! (3 claps)
C! (3 claps)
L! (3 claps)
A! (3 claps)
U-C-L-A! Fight! Fight! Fight!

About the Song
During the 1960s, the UCLA Marching Band adopted new Bruin-oriented lyrics to UC Berkeley’s “Big C, Sons of California,” and composed “Sons of Westwood,” one of the Bruin fight songs. Today the “Eight-Clap” yell introduced by a UCLA student in 1948, often accompanies the fight song.

"Strike Up the Band"

Let the drums roll out!
Let the trumpets call, Let the whole world shout UCLA.
With our battle cry Bruin! Conquer all! We will do or die! UCLA!
There’s a game to be won, to be won!
Put the foe on the run, on the run!
And it’s got to be done, To be done here today!
With our flag unfurled, we can lick the world!
You see, we’re UCLA!

About the Song
“Strike Up the Band for UCLA,” written by George and Ira Gershwin, was adopted from their showtune “Strike Up the Band.” It was presented to UCLA at an All-University Sing held in Royce Hall during fall 1936.

Music courtesy of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band.

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