Penn School Song Red and Blue

“The Red and Blue” is a popular song of Penn.

According to pennathletics.com

School Color

There are several stories concerning the origin of Penn’s colors. One tale explains that George Washington, having been invited to a Pennsylvania Commencement to receive the first presidential honorary degree, donned his best uniform — blue tunic trimmed in red. Mention of his attire was the first official recording of colors at a Penn function, and the use of red and blue continues as a mark of deference to our Founding Father.

Another legend, perhaps more plausible, concerns an early track meet at Saratoga, N.Y., between Penn, Harvard and Yale. When asked by the meet’s officials what colors would be representing the Penn faction, the Pennsylvania captain replied, “We’re going to be wearing the colors of the teams we beat” — Harvard Crimson and Yale Blue. We shall assume that Penn was victorious, and thus loyalty to the red and blue was sworn.

In all seriousness, the University of Pennsylvania has used different shades of red and blue at different times over the past century. Yet the University has been faithful to a resolution adopted by the Trustees on May 17, 1910: “The colors shall be red and blue…The colors shall conform to the present standards used by the United States Government in its flags.” These are the colors used today.

Verse

Come all ye loyal classmen now,

in hall and campus through,

Lift up your hearts and voices for the royal Red and Blue.

Fair Harvard has her crimson,

Old Yale her colors too

But for dear Pennsylvan-I-ah,

We wear the Red and Blue.


Chorus

Hurrah! Hurrah! Pennsylvani-I-ah!

Hurrah for the Red and Blue!

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Hurrah for the Red and Blue!