We all know that during the fall semester Saturdays in Tuscaloosa revolve around Alabama football. Everyone in this state lives and breathes Alabama football. If you have never watched a game in Bryant-Denny, it is an atmosphere unlike any other.
What makes the atmosphere so special? Without a doubt it is the 102,000 fans. And what fans are the rowdiest and loudest in the entire stadium? It is definitely the student section.
So here ya' go incoming freshmen; here is all you need to know so that when you are in Bryant-Denny for your first game as a student, you look less like a -- well, freshman.
First things first, the fight song.
The Alabama fight song can get a little confusing, but you need to learn it. Every student should take the time to learn the fight song, and if you are planning on joining a fraternity, you absolutely need to know the fight song. The fight song goes as follows:
“Yea, Alabama Drown ‘em tide every Bama man's behind you; hit your stride; go teach the bulldogs to behave; send the yellow jackets to a watery grave and if a man starts to weaken that’s a shame for bama’s pluck and grit have writ her name in crimson flame; fight on, fight on, fight on men. Remember the Rose Bowl; we’ll win then GO, roll on to victory; hit your stride; you’re dixie’s football pride. Crimson tide; ROLL TIDE ROLL TIDE."
The common place where most freshmen stumble is “Bama’s pluck and grit have writ her name in crimson flame." The only way to get it right is simple repetition. Therefore, start now, because when Ole Miss comes to town, we have a score to settle and everyone better be singing the fight song at the top of his or her lungs.
The next song, which is just as important as the fight song, is “Sweet Home Alabama.”
You will hear it over a million times during your college career at Alabama. The very famous song by Lynyrd Skynyrd will be played everywhere from the games, to tailgates, to bars, to fraternity parties, and house parties. It is important to not only learn the words to the song, but to learn the words that are sung during the pauses of the song.
“Big wheels keep on turning, carry me home to see my kin singing songs about the South, and I miss Alabama once again, and I think it's a sin, yea well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her. Well, I heard ol' Neil put her down. Well, I hope Neil Young will remember a Southern man don't need him around anyhow. Sweet Home Alabama ‘ROLL TIDE ROLL.’ Where the skies are so blue. Sweet Home Alabama. Lord, I'm coming home to you. In Birmingham they love the governor, (boo boo boo). Now we all did what we could do. Now Watergate does not bother me; does your conscience bother you? Tell the truth, Sweet Home Alabama, ‘ROLL TIDE ROLL,’ where the skies are so blue. Sweet Home Alabama. Lord, I'm coming home to you, here I come, Alabama. Ah, ah, ah, Alabama. Ah ah ah Alabama, Ah, ah, ah, Alabama. Ah, ah, ah, Alabama. Now Muscle Shoals has got the swampers and they've been known to pick a song or two (Yes, they do!) Lord, they get me off so much they pick me up when I'm feeling blue, now how about you? Sweet Home Alabama ‘ROLL TIDE ROLL’ where the skies are so blue. Sweet Home Alabama ‘ROLL TIDE ROLL’ Lord, I'm coming home to you. Sweet Home Alabama.”
Alright kids, it is not rocket science, just yell “Roll Tide Roll” at the right times and you will fit in.
Okay, this next song seems to be the crowd favorite amongst the students, but that could very well be the reason why it is currently banned by the University from being played at athletic events.
The song is a classic by the band, Alabama: “Dixie Land Delight.”
The fans go crazy for the song, so it was usually played about once a game, at the point when crowd hype was needed for momentum. Before I post the lyrics, here is my disclaimer: I do not, in anyway, condone the words used by some fans in the pauses of the song. At the same time, I am not your parent, so if your heart desires it, scream those words at the top of your lungs.
“Rollin' down a backwoods, Tennessee by-way, one arm on the wheel. Holdin' my lover with the other, a sweet, soft, southern thrill. Worked hard all week; got a little jingle, on a Tennessee Saturday night. Couldn't feel better, I'm together, with my Dixieland Delight. Spend my dollar,‘ON BEER’ parked in a holler, 'neath the mountain moonlight ‘ROLL TIDE.’ Hold her up tight, ‘AGAIST THE WALL’ Make a little lovin', ‘ALL NIGHT’ a little turtle dovin'. On a Mason-Dixon night. ‘**** AUBURN’ fits my life, ‘AND LSU’ oh so right, ‘AND TENNESSEE TOO’ My Dixieland Delight. White-tail buck deer, munchin' on clover, red-tail hawk sittin' on a limb. A chubby old groundhog, croakin' bullfrog, free as the feelin' in the wind. Home grown country girl, gonna give me a whirl, on a Tennessee Saturday night. Lucky as a seven, livin' in heaven, with my Dixieland Delight.
The future of "Dixie Land Delight" at Alabama events is unknown, but you will hear it at other events. You will definitely hear the fight song and "Sweet Home Alabama" at University events, so learn them and live by them.
In finishing, freshmen -- help us maintain the greatest atmosphere in all of college football; and, continue to make it difficult for visiting teams. Good luck on your first year at Alabama. Roll Tide, and watch out for the parking police -- they will get ya'.
Please note: do not mess with the ducks near Lakeside; the University considers them as alumni and they will charge you with kidnapping. Also, pledges -- do not be afraid to sit in the lower bowl with the actives. I promise, it is just as much fun as rush.
