Hail, Pennsylvania!
Encyclopedia
"Hail, Pennsylvania!" written by Edgar M. Dilley (Class of 1897), as a submission to an University of Pennsylvania
alumni committee-sponsored contest to write a song to the tune of "God Save the Tsar!
", the national anthem of Imperial Russia
, by Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov
. Edgar Dilley was awarded $25.
Edgar M. Dilley was an assistant director with The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club
. The piece was first performed by his group at its annual concert at the Academy of Music in 1895. For many years, the song was performed at Franklin Field
, when the football team suffered a loss. Today, the song is still performed at University functions and sporting events by The University of Pennsylvania Band
and The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club
.
Aside from becoming the Alma Mater of the University of Pennsylvania
, the song also serves as the official song of Lackawanna County
. Also, until 1990, the song served as the official song for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
alumni committee-sponsored contest to write a song to the tune of "God Save the Tsar!
God Save the Tsar!
"God Save the Tsar!" was the national anthem of the late Russian Empire. The song was chosen from a competition held in 1833. The composer was violinist Alexei Lvov, and the lyrics were by the court poet Vasily Zhukovsky...
", the national anthem of Imperial Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, by Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov
Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov
Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov (Russian: Алексей Фёдорович Львов) Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov (Russian: Алексей Фёдорович Львов) (June 5, 1799 in Tallinn–December 28, 1870 in Romainiai (now Kaunas) was a Russian composer. He composed the imperial Russian national anthem Bozhe,...
. Edgar Dilley was awarded $25.
Edgar M. Dilley was an assistant director with The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club
The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club
Founded in 1862, the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club is one of the oldest continually running glee clubs in the United States. The Club draws its singing members from the undergraduate and graduate men of the University of Pennsylvania; men and women from the Penn community are also called...
. The piece was first performed by his group at its annual concert at the Academy of Music in 1895. For many years, the song was performed at Franklin Field
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
, when the football team suffered a loss. Today, the song is still performed at University functions and sporting events by The University of Pennsylvania Band
The University of Pennsylvania Band
The University of Pennsylvania Band is among the most active collegiate band programs in the U.S...
and The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club
The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club
Founded in 1862, the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club is one of the oldest continually running glee clubs in the United States. The Club draws its singing members from the undergraduate and graduate men of the University of Pennsylvania; men and women from the Penn community are also called...
.
Aside from becoming the Alma Mater of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, the song also serves as the official song of Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
. Also, until 1990, the song served as the official song for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Lyrics
- Hail! Pennsylvania!
- Noble and strong;
- To thee with loyal hearts,
- We raise our song.
- Swelling to Heaven loud,
- Our praises ring;
- Hail! Pennsylvania,!
- Of thee we sing!
- Majesty as a crown
- Rests on thy brow;
- Pride, Honor, Glory, Love,
- Before thee bow.
- Ne'er can thy spirit die,
- Thy walls decay;
- Hail! Pennsylvania,
- For thee we pray!
- Hail! Pennsylvania!
- Guide of our youth;
- Lead thou thy children on
- To light and truth;
- Thee, when death summons us,
- Others shall praise,
- Hail! Pennsylvania,
- Thro' endless days!