FSU Hymns

The following are the alma mater, hymn, and fight song of Florida State University.

Alma Mater - "High O'er Towering Pines"

In 1947, The Florida Flambeau held a contest for a song to become the school’s alma mater; “High O’er the Towering Pines” was written by Johnny Lawrence and submitted to the competition. The song was announced as the winner of the competition on November 21, 1947, but was not officially made the alma mater until 1949.

"Hymn To the Garnet and Gold"

J. Dayton Smith's "The Hymn to the Garnet and the Gold" was arranged for band by Charlie Carter in 1958 as an ending to the Homecoming show, and the traditions associated with the hymn began. A choral version of the song had been submitted into a contest for FSU's alma mater in 1947. While this song did not make it as the official alma mater, it still is sung in reverence by those at FSU and is performed by the Marching Chiefs after every game.

"FSU Fight Song"

The 1950 Homecoming half-time show included a dedication ceremony naming the stadium in honor of university President Doak Campbell. There was also a special performance by the band, christening it the Marching Chiefs and premiering the "FSU Fight Song." Student Doug Alley wrote the lyrics to the fight song as a poem which first appeared in the Florida Flambeau. Professor of music Thomas Wright saw the poem in the newspaper and wrote a melody to it as he was inspired by the surge of school spirit.

Thomas Wright grants rights to the song in exchange for two season tickets every year.

Fifty years later, the FSU Fight Song is one of the most widely recognized college tunes in the country. Mission Control used the Fight Song to awaken alumnus and current professor Norm Thagard one morning in 1983 while he was aboard the Challenger spacecraft.

See also

• History of Florida State University
• Marching Chiefs
• Florida State Seminoles