Pitt Victory Song The Pitt Victory Song , one of the most popular and widely used fight song s of the University of Pittsburgh , is often played in conjunction with " Hail to Pitt " and the " Panther Song " . It was originally written by former to students of the university in order to solve the issue of the university not owning the copyright to " Hail to Pitt " which prevented the school from granting permission for its use during football radio broadcasts . Lyrics were written by G . Norman Reis ( Col . 1916 ) and Louis M . Fushan ( Econ . 1923 ) . Music was written by Benjamin Levant ( Col . 1919 , Med . 1921 ) . The song debuted in the Cap and Gown Club ' s 1938 musical production entitled " Pickets , Please ! " Although commonly performed at university events , few people today know the rarely heard first portion of the song that occurs before the chorus . However , the most common cheer that is used during Pitt - related events and athletic contests is " Let ' s go Pitt ! " , which while perhaps derived from the song ' s lyrics , is often cheered even in absence of the song or music . Recordings . During the 1940s Joseph Wood conducted a recording of a collection of songs entitled " Songs of the University of Pittsburgh " that featured Walter Scheff , Ralph Nyland , and Michael Stewart . Released on two 78 - rpm discs by Republic records , the album featured the " Pitt Victory Song " , as well as " Hail to Pitt " , the " The Panther " , and the " Pitt Alma Mater " . Various compilations by the Pitt Band and Pitt Men ' s Glee Club have also been produced that have included the " Victory Song " . Around the 1952 - 1953 school year , the Pitt Band and the Pitt Men ' s Glee Club collaborated to release a compilation songs entitled " Songs of Pitt " on RCA Victor Records . A limited edition box entitled " Proud Traditions A Musical Tribute to Pitt " was released for Pitt ' s bicentennial in 1987 on the Europadisk Ltd . label and included a booklet and three 12 - inch vinyl records that included a recording of the " Victory Song " . More recent compilations include " Pitt Spirit " released on audio cassette in 1989 , " Proudly Pittsburgh " in 1997 , and in the late 2000s " Pitt Pride ! " and " Panther Fans . . . Are You Ready ? " on compact disc . The " Victory Song " is also included on " Gameday Faves : Classic College Fight Songs Volume 8 " . the " Victory Song " is available for purchase in a variety of formats including compact discs , MP3 s , and ringtones . The " Victory Song " has been a part of various compilations including a collection entitled " Songs of the University of Pittsburgh " in 1929 by the Thornton W . Allen Company of New York , as well as in Young ' s " Everybody ' s favorite songs of the American colleges " published in 1938 . Lyrics . The lyrics specifically reference and focuses on football . This reinforces the attention on , and popularity of , the university ' s football team at the time of its writing . Some printings of the lyrics record the version " It may be tough , The going rough , But always fighting fair " - which reverses the order of the words " rough " and " tough " Controversy with unofficial lyrics . For most of the history of Pittsburgh Panthers athletic programs , a major rivalry has been with the Penn State Nittany Lions , especially in football . During the 1970s and 1980s , the rivalry was especially intense , with the two schools ' football teams often competing for the national championship along with state supremacy . During this period , words to the final portion of the song containing the bridge were substituted by students . The popularity of the use of these alternative lyrics carried over to when the fight song was used even during contests when Penn State was not the opponent , including other sporting events such as basketball . However some administrators at the university , including athletic director Steve Pederson , thought that the language was undignified , especially in light of the fact that many of the athletic contests where the chant could be heard were broadcast on regional and national television . Beginning with the 2001 – 2002 school year , the university administration , without announcement , mandated the Pitt Band to stop playing the portion of the song with the objectionable student - substituted lyrics . The elimination of the verse was intended to clean up the sportsmanship of the song , especially in light of controversial suspension of the football series , and to center cheers strictly on Pitt , but it was not met without controversy . The altered version without the final bridge remains the version played by the Pitt Band to this day . However , the bridge is still played as part of the " Victory Chorale " . A 1938 printing of a song book containing college songs shows a slight variation in verse from " So lend a hand . . . " that is described above to " So give a hand . . . "