Bright College Years


"Bright College Years" is one of the traditional songs of Yale University, and the university's unofficial but undisputed alma mater. It was written to the tune of "Die Wacht am Rhein" in 1881 by Henry Durand.
In some old songbooks and publications, the song can be found under the name "Dear Old Yale", possibly a reference to the closing words of another popular Yale song, Neath the Elms: "Jolly, jolly are the days neath the elms of dear old Yale!"
During World War I and shortly afterward, "Bright College Years" was nearly banned for its German heritage. Yale men stationed in Paris sang it to the tune of "La Marseillaise".

Lyrics

Performance

The Yale Glee Club, custodians of the Yale song tradition through publication of Songs of Yale, traditionally closes every concert with the alma mater. At the end of The Game the Yale Precision Marching Band performs the song while the senior members of the band sing along. Various member parties in the Yale Political Union include "Bright College Years" in their toasting sessions and celebrations. In addition, the song is sung at the end of Class Day. White handkerchiefs are raised in the air and waved on the last line.
Traditionally, only the first and third verses are sung, and the latest publication of Songs of Yale includes the lyrics of the second verse only in the appendix.

In popular culture