page_title: Hail to Pitt
section_title: '"Hail to Pitt" Lyrics
hierarchical_section_title: Hail to Pitt / '"Hail to Pitt" Lyrics
caption_attribution_description: The Pitt Band performs "Hail to Pitt" at a pep rally for the Pitt football game against Penn State in 1947.
context_page_description: "Hail to Pitt" is the most traditional fight song of the University of Pittsburgh, which is commonly referred to as Pitt. The saying "Hail to Pitt!" is also the most traditional and commonly used slogan of the University of Pittsburgh and its athletics teams. The slogan is frequently used in promotional material, printed on merchandise and souvenirs. It was also the title of a 1982 history of Pitt athletics by author Jim O'Brien. The slogan is often used among alumni as a statement of affiliation, including as a closing signature in conversation or correspondence between alumni, and is sometime abbreviated as "HTP" or "H2P", the latter of which is a registered trademark of the university and is frequently used on official university signage and merchandise.
context_section_description: The lyrics below represent the current lyrics to "Hail to Pitt" ascribed to by the Pitt Band. Note that "U-N-I" are sung as three distinct letters of the alphabet, not to be confused with  the phrase "you and I."  The Pitt Men's Glee Club sings Hail to Pitt with the more traditional "Uni" (see Traditional Hail to Pitt Lyrics below).
  The lyrics stating "alleghenee, genec, genac, genac" reference the "Official University Yell" by 1891 graduate W. A. Johnston. The Yell itself is referencing the Allegheny Mountains of Western Pennsylvania. "Hail to Pitt" is believed to be the only college song to contain a college yell officially in its chorus. The yell was selected to be the "Official University Yell" by an 1889 committee which also selected the official school colors of blue and gold. One of the first printed appearances of the "Official University Yell" occurred in an 1890 issue of the University Courant, a literary society magazine, which was also the first official year of the university's football team. The existence of the inclusion of this cheer in "Hail to Pitt" represents one of the few remaining student traditions still in widespread practice today that existed prior to the turn of the twentieth century and the 1908 name change.
  Down in Smokytown, in Pennsylvania,
  
  In Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,
  
  We've a University we're all proud of,
  
  Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.
  
  She stands a mighty fortress 'neath her colors bright,
  
  Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,
  
  When forth she goes to battle 'gainst a stubborn foe
  
  This song will upward go:
  Hail to Pitt, hail to Pitt every loyal son!
  
  Hail to Pitt, hail to Pitt 'til the victory is won!
  
  The gold and blue shall wave forever
  
  On high through fair and stormy weather;
  
  We'll sing her praises far and wide
  
  Until the end of time!
  
  Hooperay, hooperay for dear old U-N-I;
  
  We'll give a grand old alleghenee, genac, genac, genac
  
  We'll wave and cheer for many a year
  
  And sing our songs out loud and clear
  
  For our university.
  
              (repeat Chorus)
  
  Often during sporting events, pep rallies, and various alumni and student functions, only the chorus is frequently played by the Pitt Band.  It is usually paired with the other two widely performed fight songs of the University: the Pitt Victory Song and "The Panther" song.
caption: The Pitt Band performs "Hail to Pitt" at a pep rally for the 1947 Pitt vs. Penn State football game
exif: {"Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop CS3 Macintosh", "Image DateTime": "2009:02:14 23:10:43", "Image ExifOffset": "164", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "302", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "8106", "EXIF ColorSpace": "Uncalibrated", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "328", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "235"}