Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs

Subject: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 09:56 AM

Fraternity & sorority chants and songs are part of folk's oral tradition. Yet I've not been able to find any examples of or discussion about fraternity & sorority chants on Mudcat. [I put in the words "fraternity chants" and fraternity song and fraternity drinking songs in Mudcat's lyrics & knowledge search box. Each time I came up with nothing. If there are any threads or posts on this subject I'd appreciate someone posting the links. Thanks]

To fill in this {possible} gap, I'll post some examples of Black Greek letter organization {BGLO} chants that I have heard, as well as examples that were submitted to my website Cocojams , or some examples that I found elsewhere on the Internet. I'll also include some comments in this thread bout the Black Greek letter fraternities' and sororities' traditions of chanting and steppin {the group movement/performance art which is used for chanting}.

However, I would prefer that this thread also include examples of {relatively non-profane} fraternity songs and chants from non-African American traditions.

I hope that others join in posting to this thread as a means of adding to the folkloric record.


Thanks!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 10:18 AM

In my opinion, there are substantial differences between African American fraternity & sorority chanting and European American fraternity and sorority songs. Black Greek letter fraternities and sorority chants are rooted in the African oral traditions. These traditions are exemplified by the jalibas {griots}, the calypsonians, the bluesmen and blueswomen, and hip-hop culture's rappers and other spoken word poets.

All of these African and African Diaspora traditions include compositions which praise the individual, other individuals, a person's group, or other groups. All of these traditions include words that insult, put-down, diss another person, other individuals, and/or another group or groups. And all of these traditions use the spoken or sung word to document and/or provide comment about historical, real life events.

I also believe that some {university based} Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority chants also are similar in spirit, words, structure, and intent to certain types of children's rhymes, dance style cheerleader cheers, and foot stomping chants. Like Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority chants, the types of children's rhymes and cheers that I'm referring to originated from or are heavily influenced by African American music & performance art traditions. Many examples of these children's rhymes and cheers include lines of self-promotion and put-downs of another individual or another group or team.

My personal recollection of White college fraternity "sings" at a small college in Northern New Jersey in the mid to late 1960s is that the fraternity songs were non-percussive. The songs were more on the order of ballads than chants. The fraternity members formed a circle in the college "quad" {"quadrangle"-a cleared grassy area in the center of the college's buildings; probably comparable to the "village square"}. The White fraternity members neither clapped their hands nor stomped their feet as accompaniment of their songs. As I recall it, these men stood stiffly while singing their songs. Their who so-ever will come audience of students, faculty, and staff also stood stiffly and silently while this "concert" was occurring. Members of the audience didn't cheer, or otherwise show their pleasure or displeasure with the songs or the group's performance.

This type of singing and audience response is entirely opposite from what happens at performances of Black Greek letter fraternity & sorority chants {and other steppin events that are patterned after African American steppin & chanting traditions}.

Black Greek letter fraternity & sorority chants are usually spoken in a dramatic sing/song voice while performing the syncopated, synchronized movement art called "steppin". "Steppin" is a group movement art that includes the creation of bass sounding foot stomps, {usually individual} handclaps, body pats, hip shaking, hand gesturing, dramatic facial expressions, and other body movements. Steppin performances sometimes also include the use of props such as wooden canes.

An increasing number of African American, Latino-American, Asian American, and multi-racial fraternities & sororities are continuing or beginning steppin & chanting traditions. In my opinion, Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority chants {and the performance of steppin/chanting by other racial & ethnic groups and by multi-racial groups that are based on Black Greek letter fraternity & sorority steppin/chanting} differ substantially from the structure, "spirit", lyrics, intent, and performance activities of White fraternity and sorority praise songs and drinking songs. It also seems to me that audience responses to the performances of these types of fraternity & sorority chants are also very different from the audience responses to White fraternity drinking songs and praise songs.

Click on these links for some video examples of BGLO {Black Greek letter organizations} steppin and chanting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d15cAKtZQFM&NR Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. - "The Black Student Union Yard Show Fall 2006" {The University of Alabama}
[btw and fwiw, this is the sorority, though not the chapter, that I belong to]

**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-8UyUbyFa8
Omega Psi Phi [inc.] district Meeting Step Show

**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDM_R529UQ4&mode=related&search=
{a high school or community step team}

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 10:45 AM

Here's a chant from the university based, African American, Greek letter fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Inc:

WE ARE THE BROTHERS OF Q PSI PHI

Refrain leader: Oh Oh Oh!
All: Oh Oh Oh!
Leader: Oh Oh Oh Oh!
All: Oh Oh Oh!

Leader: We are the brothers of Que Psi Phi {"Que" usually written "Q"}
All: We are the brothers of Que Psi Phi
Leader: The Mother Pearl and that's no lie.
All: The Mother Pearl and that's no lie.
Leader: We're gonna live, we're gonna die
All: We're gonna live, we're gonna die
Leader: In the name of Que Psi Phi.
All: In the name of Que Psi Phi.
Leader: We've come from near we've come from far
Leader: first by lamp and then by star
All: first by lamp and then by star.

Refrain

Leader: In this place of pain and tears,
All: In this place of pain and tears,
Leader: I have learned to persevere.
All: I have learned to persevere.
Leader: Manhood and scholarship,
All: Manhood and scholarship,
Leader: and the meaning of uplift.
Leader: Cooper, Coleman, Love, and Just (varied rhythm) *
All: Cooper, Coleman, Love, and Just,
Leader: They are watching over us.
All: They are watching over us.

Refrain

Leader: I may not see my home again,
All: I'll wave good-bye to all my friends,
Leader: I'll tell my Mama not to cry,
All: I am pledging Que Psi Phi.

Refrain.

Leader: She said "Son along the way,
All: She said "Son along the way,
Leader: watch those cloudy skies of gray.
All: watch those cloudy skies of gray.
Leader: The sun is shining on the other side } (ritardando}
All: The sun is shining on the other side }
Leader; shining brightly Que Psi Phi" }
All: shining brightly Que Psi Phi" } (crescendo)

Refrain (resume previously tempo)

* The last names of the four founders of the fraternity

Elizabeth Fine, "Soulstepping-African American Step Shows" {University of Illinois Press; 2003; pg. 48-49

1995 Probates {pledges}, Howard University

"With shaven heads and gold paint glistening on their faces, the 1995 probates of Omega Psi Phi at Howard University stand at rigid attention, holding across their chest shields decorated with the fraternity insignia. In combat boots, tan trousers, blue sweat shirts, sunglasses, the young men stand with their chins and lower lips thrust out, a ritual facial expression known as the grit
-snip-

I've never heard the term "The grit", but this expression is commonly known as "grittin".

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 10:49 AM

I LOOKED OVER JORDAN

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see
I saw Kappa Alpha Psi looking up at me
I said, "Tell me Nupe, what do you say?"
He said "Damn I shoulda pledged that A Phi A"
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see
I saw Omega Psi Phi looking up at me
I said tell me Que, to save your soul,
Why did you steal the PHI and Old Gold
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see
I saw Phi Beta Sigma looking up at me
I said "Tell me Blue, what do you see?"
"I see Alpha Phi Alpha shining brighter than me"
Cause we're the ICE COLD brothers of A Phi A
And pledging our frat is the only way!

-from ColdFront06 ; http://www.stophazing.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000243 ; StopHazing.org Fraternity Sorority Chants; 9-28-2005

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: oldhippie
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 11:09 AM

I don't suppose fraternities sang "The Preppie Anthem" (Oscar Brand).

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 11:22 AM

MAKE WAY THE Q TRAIN IS COMIN

Make Way The Q Train Is Comin
Make way the Q train is comin
Make way the Q train is comin
Make way the Q train is comin
And you don't want to be left behind.

-snip-

I've seen this chant performed at step shows that I attended in the 1990s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I've seen performances of this same chant-in combination with others-on various step show tapes from that decade.

This Omega Psi Phi, Inc. chant/song is usually started by a member of the step team that has a deep, melodious voice.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 11:23 AM

Old hippie, I'm not hip to that song.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 11:49 AM

ONE AND ONE AND ONE MAKE THREE

One and one and one makes three.
You better watch your man
cause your man is watchin me.

So if you came her with your man
you better hold him tight.
Cause you damn sure better believe
He'll be leaving here with a
Q Pearl tonight.
-a member of Q Pearl, Edinboro University, 1990s; also featured in Meharry College step show video, {with the name "AKA" substituted for "Q Pearl} late 1990s; AKA is an abbreviation for the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.}

-snip-

My informant for this chant told me that she thinks that this chant probably came from a sorority before it was "picked up" by her little sister group. She also said that she thought that a lot of sororities use this chant.

Confirming that observation, I heard at least the first four lines of this chant on a video of a Meharry College step show, late 1990s. In that video, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority {AKA's} who were seated in the bleachers began this chant after their step team's formal portion of the show. Several AKAs stood in front of the AKA's section of the gymnasium bleachers and were chanting, pumpin up the others in that section. Because of the chanting that was going on throughout different sections of the gym, I couldn't understand the rest of the cheer. But it certainly could have been the same words to the chant given above.

Step chants {songs} and {certain} step routines that are performed by one chapter within a geographical area may be picked up and performed by other chapters who are in widely separated geographical areas. These step routines and chants are shared within chapters of the national organization at national & regional conferences & step shows, and are shared informally by members from different chapters who may visit each other. Step show videos are another way of learning new routines. Increasingly, internet websites and bulletin boards are another way of learning new chants and different versions of chants.

I've also collected a version of this chant performed by frat brothas who said that "you betta watch your girl cause your girl is watchin me".

There was a time when it was absolutely prohibited for anyone other than a member of a specific Pan-Hellenic organization to perform that organization's chants or perform that organization's signature steps. An exception to that firm rule was those portions of a step show when members of a sorority [or fraternity or little sister group] perform signature steps or chants that are clearly associated with another organization in salute to that organization or as a semi-serious 'crack' on that organization.

Although step routines and chants aren't supposed to be performed by people who aren't members of a specific fraternity or sorority, more and more nowadays, non-members of these Greek letter organizations are changing a word or a move here or there and using what them in the routines they do for their community or school step teams.

Here's a link to a website that sells videos of step shows and vds of fraternity and sorority chants: [Disclaimer-I've not purchased anything from this website, so can't vouch for its quality or reliabilty:

http://www.stompshow.com/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=51

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 12:16 PM

BRRR! IT'S COLD IN HERE

Brr! it's cold in here.
There must be some Alphas
in the atmosphere.
[I said-ah]
Brr! it's cold in here.
There must be some Alphas
in the atmosphere.

-snip-

This is a signature Alpha chant. I've heard this at various step shows; Pittsburgh, Pa area; 1990s, 2000s, but it's very well known elsewhere.

"Brrr" is meant to approximate the sound a person makes when he or she is freezing cold. "Alphas" refer to members of the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. In this context, being "cold" is good {probably because of it's connection with being both "cool" and being "cold blooded".

Here's two versions of this chant that are used as a children's cheerleading cheer:

BRRRRR ITS COLD IN HERE
this is a cheer that my team does "i said brrr..(clap clap) its cold in here there must be some*rebels* in the atmosphere i said bang(stomp) bang choo choo train common' girls lets do our thang,were gonna rock our bodies and win the game so you better back it up back it up back it up and bump it to the right! uh huh GO TEAM!
-rebel-ekaboo; 5/24/2007; http://www.cocojams.com/cheerleader_cheers.htm

**

BUR ITS COLD IN HERE
I said bur its cold in here there must be some clovers in the atmisfire I said owe owe o ice ice ice slow it down owe owe owe ice ice ice here GO!

me and my team made that up be bak soon with some more CHEERS!!
-Alyssa; 3/14/2007; http://www.cocojams.com/cheerleader_cheers.htm

[here's part of my comment to Alyssa:
It just occurred to me that "owe owe owe" or ooh-we ooh-we oh" [and similarly written phrases] comes from the R&B song "Jungle Love" by Morris Day & The Times. This phrase, given as "Oh-wee-oh-wee-oh," repeats in the background of that 1984 song. Morris Day & The Times sung "Jungle Love" and other songs when Day was featured as Prince's antagonist in Prince's movie "Purple Rain".]

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 12:20 PM

In keeping with the Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. theme of being "cold", here's an example of their signature chant "Ice Ice Baby"

ICE ICE BABY
Ice ice baby,
too cold too cold.
Ice ice baby,
The black and gold
-various sources

-snip-
The "black and gold" refers to Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.'s colors.

One reason why the White rapper Vanilla Ice was not respected by a lot of African Americans was the fact that he took the "Ice Ice Baby" saying from the Alphas.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 12:52 PM

One of the keenest rivalries among the BGLO {Black Greek letter organizations is the beef between the two sororities AKA {Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.} and DST {Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., also known as "Deltas"}. To simplify the history, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. founded in 1908, was the first {university based} Black Greek letter sorority. However, in 1913, members of AKA sorority left that organization to establish Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Complicating this rivalry is the fact that at one time, it was difficult to be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. if you weren't a light skinned African American woman. Of course, that has largely changed and members of these two sororities may diss each other just for fun. But there's no denying that there are some people the rivalry between the two organizations is a serious matter...

Here are two dissin sorority chants:

HEY! SOROR OVER THERE
Hey!
Soror over there,
with your nose up in the air!
to cute to be a DST, somebody say Skee Wee!!!

This is my pinkie (hold up pinkie)
And this is my hand (hold out hand)
It's just like an AKA to take your man

You're mad about your boyfriend
And that's no lie
It takes a real ALPHA Woman to keep him satisfied

So get yourself together and put your man on a leash because he'd rather be with beauty (sorors hold up your pinkie)

Than to be with the beast!
(sorors do the Delta's hand sign upside down. Should be an upside down triangle)

["Skee Wee is the AKA call"; Delta's sign is a triangle made with both hands; "soror" means "sorority sister", an AKA holding up her pinky is part of that sorority's hand sign]
-soulforealAKA; http://www.stophazing.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000243 ; 10-24-2005

**
IN 1908
In 1908,
you started it true.
Deltas were AKA's just like you.
But 22 ladies made a deal to be
cute sisters and plain ol' REAL
No ivy, no mirror, no pink no green.
The real sorority started in 1913.
So it's cool AKA, do what u do.
We can skee-wee, but u can never oo-oop.
-REDalert05 ; http://www.stophazing.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000243 ; 10-04-2005

[The "ivy" plant is associated with AKA; The sorority's "pledges"-women trying to be members-are called "ivies". At certain points in a step show, AKAs play on their self-constructed image as "pretty girls" by pretending to hold a mirror in front of them {or one of their sorors} and pretend to fix their hair. "Pink and green" are the colors of AKA].

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 01:00 PM

Here are two self-promoting sorority chants:

CONCEITED
Just the other day, I was called conceited. Had to turn my head, cause I just couldn`t believe it. Conceited, Conceited, I`ve always
been this way. That's just the confidence and style of an AKA.
-Ashley P.; 5/11/2007; www.cocojams.com
**

DELTA ALL THE WAY
If I was too cool wouldn't it be nice. To see a true stepper step for crimson and white. Delta all the way. Delta's what they say. Is
what some little girls want to be someday.
-Dezera K.; 2/5/2007; www.cocojams.com

**

Here's an example of a sorority chant that praises its group and insults other sororities:

ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM
To all you ZPhiB's--with your I-A-Keys
See, you should have been a little bit smarter
and pledged DST
(we wouldn't have you)
Zoom Zoom Zoom...

Sigma Gamma Rho
there's something you should know
it's that Delta Sigma Theta
is the only way to go
(we are the sorors)
Zoom zoom zoom...

Alpha Kappa Alpha
you are loved by only a few
you see, Delta Sigma Theta
We got the Alphas, Kappas, Sigmas and Ques.
Zoom zoom zoom
-REDalert05; http://www.stophazing.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000243 ; 10-04-2005

["ZPhiB's--with your I-A-Keys" I know that ZPhiB's refers to the Black Greek letter sorority Zeta Phi Beta {also known as the Zetas}. I think that "I-A-Keys" is a play on the Zeta call, but I'm not sure about that; Alphas, Kappas, Sigmas and Ques. are names of four Black Greek letter fraternities].

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 01:09 PM

Black Greek letter fraternities also do dissin chants big time.

Here's a couple dissin and self-praising fraternity chants:

KING TUT WENT TO EGYPT THE OTHER DAY
King Tut went to Egypt the other day
To Check out the greeks that were coming his way
He saw the Ques, and he said thay acted like a fool
He saw the Kappas, and he said that they were not cute
He saw the Sigmas, and he said that they made him sick
Then he saw the A-PHI!, and he made his pick
-ENewton; http://www.stophazing.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000243 ; 09-30-2005

[This is an Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. chant]

**

IWANT TO BE A KAPPA AS SOON AS I KAN
I want to be a Kappa, I want to be a Kappaman, I want to be a Kappa, I want to be a Kappa as soon as I kan. Don't wanna be an Alpha, Don't wanna be an Alpha monkey, I don't want to be an Alpha, Want to be a Kappa as soon as I kan. I don't want to be a Sigma, Don't want to be a Sigma sissy, Don't want to be a Sigma, Wanna Be A Kappa as soon as I kan.. Don't wanna be Omega,
Don't want to be a Que Psi puppy, Don't wanna be Omega, wanna be a Kappa as soon as I kan...Don't want to be Iota. Don't want to
be Iota period!!! Don't want to be Iota, Gotta be a Kappa as soon as I kan. I wanna be A Kappa. I want to be a Kappaman, I want to be a Kappa, Gotta be a Kappa as soon as I kan.
-YO ROKK HARD KUMKLUSION; www.cocojams.com; 7/5/2007

**

Iota [Iota Phi Theta] is the name of relatively new [university based] Black Greek letter fraternity. Here's one of their chants:

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR IOTA
I 've been working hard for iota/ Gotta that iota shield I've been working hard for iota because it is my will (hold that line) hold that and we will be together pledging now and pledging forever I've been working, working striving. striving but i still gotta long way to (Go oh oh oh)x2
-jamere t.; www.cocojams.com; 6/7/2006

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: oldhippie
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 02:25 PM

Azizi, this is what I get transcribing it.

"The Preppie Anthem"
Oscar Brand
(tune: Juhn Brown's Body)

Know us by our haughty manner
And the emblem on the coat
Know that we have been prepared for life
At Exeter and Choate
If you're a lousy high school grad
How we love to gloat
The preppie marches on.

Chorus:
Glory glory I'm a preppie
Glory glory I'm a preppie
Glory glory I'm a preppie
And nobody loves me more than me.

Our alligator clothing
Gets more baggy as you watch
And if the trousers fit
We let them out another notch
We're always terrified
We might be strangled by the crotch
But the preppie marches on

Chorus

We'e Buffy, Muffy, Cuffy
The nicknames are absurd
Biff and Binky, Wiff and Winky
Skip and Chip and Ferd
Wish I recalled my real name
It's something dash the third
But the preppie marches on

Chorus

So here's to all us preppies
And our guaranteed success
Give credit to the preppie
We don't take any less
We run your institutions
Which is why they're in a mess
As the preppie marches on.

Chorus

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 03:01 PM

LOL, oldhippie.

Thanks!

I found a sound clip of "The Preppie Anthemn here:

http://www.folkways.si.edu/search/AlbumDetails.aspx?ID=50#

from:
Fast Folk Musical Magazine (Vol. 1, No. 2)
Various Artists

Fast Folk Musical Magazine - FFFF102 1984

**

I also found that parody here http://woxy.lala.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-7094.html with the notation © 1983 Oscar Brand

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 03:07 PM

"Our alligator clothing gets more baggy as you watch
And if the trousers fit, we let 'em out another notch
We're always terrified we might be strangled by the crotch
The preppie marches on"

-snip-

Do preppies wear baggy clothes, too?

I didn't know that. In the 'hood, some teen and young adult males still can be seen "sportin the sag" {wear pants so big that they sag down so far that you can see the tops and maybe more of their boxer underwear}. This style is said to have come about because in jail guys aren't allowed to have belts. That explains the pants saggin but not the three sizes too big look.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,Mike the Knife
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 03:17 PM

When I was living in Heidelberg, Germany, the "fraternities" (Studentkooperationen) would come out in uniform on the night of May 1st for "Maisingen" which was to thank the city for it's collective hospitality. This in turn has become an opportunity for the left-wing types to come out in droves to chant & drown them out, as these "fraternities" have gotten a bit of a reputation as being right-wing & nationalistic to a fault & some of the songs allegedly sung (couldn't hear them for the din)were to have beem popularized by the charming bunch who ran the show from '33-'45. Last one I saw was circa '92/'93 & has probably since been cancelled as the police presence was very heavy & bottles were flying.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 03:28 PM

Here's a version of the Q PSI Phi chant that I posted on 08 Jul 07 - 10:45 AM :

We Are The Men Of Q PSI PHI
We are the men of Q Psi Phi
Mighty Mighty Q Psi Phi
We come from near we come from far
First by lamp and then by star
Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa
Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa

I kiss my girl and made her cry
Cause I was pledgin Q Psi Phi.
I kissed my girl and made her cry
Cause I was pledgin Q Psi Phi
Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa
Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa
-signature Omega Psi Phi, Inc. song

-snip-

"We Are The Men Of Q Psi Phi" is a popular Omega Psi Phi, Inc. song. Although this moderately slow song is structured like a call & response song, the only way I've heard it sung is in unison. Like the song "Make Way The Q Train Is Coming", often serves as a prelude or introduction to other step routines. "Lamp" is a symbol for Q pledges; "Star" is a symbol for men who have passed the pledge process and become official members of the fraternity

The meaning I've gotten from the lines "I kissed my girl and made her cry/cause I was pledgin Q Psi Phi" was that the girl cried because she knew that she'd have less time with her man now that he was pledging Q Psi Phi.

Of course, that line is borrowed from the Mother Goose rhyme: "Georgie Porgy; Puddin Pie/ kiss the girls and made them cry". However, since Ques are known as real buff, macho men, the next lines for the Georgie Porgie rhyme "When the boys came out to play/ Georgie Porgie ran away" wouldn't fit the image of the Q's at all.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 03:31 PM

GUEST,Mike the Knife,

That's interesting. Thanks for posting that.

"the charming bunch who ran the show from '33-'45"

Now that's "snark" if I ever read it. I needed to do some quick math to figure out who you meant.

Yeah, sometimes I'm slow on the uptake...

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Genie
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 08:02 PM

Well, there's a thread here where someone was looking for the song that had a line about "never trust a sailor an inch above your knee."   I guess the origins of that line in folk song go way back, but it's also been incorporated into at least one frat song:

Come all you fair young college girls and listen to my plea:
Never trust a Sigma Nu an inch above your knee.
He'll hug you and he'll kiss you and he'll tell you he'll be true.
The son of a gun, he'll leave you with the son of a Sigma Nu!

-----
-----

And some military songs have also been adapted by fraternities, e.g.:

Oh, it's beer, beer, beer, that makes you wanta cheer,
In the halls, in the halls,
Oh, it's beer, beer, beer, that makes you wanta cheer,
In the halls of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

And many other verses, including my fave:

Oh, it's hot roast duck that makes you want a sandwich,
In the halls, in the halls, ...

---

The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity -- the "Fiji's -- at my alma mater also borrowed an old war song (from WWI or WWII):

Around her neck, she wore a yellow ribbon,
She wore it in the springtime and in the month of May,
And when they asked her why the heck she wore it,
She wore it for her Fiji who was far, far away.

As I recall, the last verse was something like:

Around the block, she pushed a baby carriage
She pushed it in the springtime and in the month of May
And when they asked her where the heck she got it,
She got it from her Fiji who was far, far away.

---
---

Sororities have been known to taunt each other in song, too. E.g.,

PBP, PBP,
Spell it backwards: PBP.
KKG, KKG,
Spell it backwards: Guck!

---
On the more refined side, far from a "chant," we have classics such as "The Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi."

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Padre
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 08:47 PM

And here are the words:

When the world goes wrong, as it's bound to do
And you've broken Dan Cupid's bow
And you long for the girl you used to love,
The maid of the long ago;
Why, light your pipe, bid sorrow avaunt,
Blow the smoke from your altar of dreams,
And wreath the face of your dream-girl there,
The love that is just what it seems.

CHORUS:
The girl of my dreams is the sweetest girl,
Of all the girls I know.
Each sweet coed, like a rainbow's trail,
Fades in the afterglow.
The blue of her eyes, and the gold of her hair
Are a blend of the Western sky.
And the moonlight beams on the girl of my dreams,
She's a Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

Padre (Mu Mu chapter 1963)

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Genie
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 09:37 PM

Thanks, Padre.

I think, though, that the line is:

"Each sweet coed, like a rainbow's tread, ..."

At least that's the way I've always heard it, and I think I've also seen it that way in print. (And it has the internal rhyming that we see in the line "And the moonlight beams on the girl of my dreams ... ."

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Padre
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 11:51 PM

"trail' is what's written in my copy of "The Norman Shield" which was our pledge manual - from which we had to memorize the Sweetheart Song and others, like this one:

Hark through the night comes the sound of voices
Raised by a loyal and lusty crew
The Sigs are marching and chanting praises
Of friendships lasting and hearts so true

And as we march alomng, we'll sing a song
In praise of dear old Sigma Chi
We'll sing a grand old song,
A Sig I am, a Sig I'll be until I die

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Genie
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 03:52 AM

Well, Padre, it's entirely possible I've been hearing a "mondegreen" in that song all these years. LOL Maybe the word was indistinctly pronounced and I just imposed the rhyme on it.
(As far as I know, rainbows have neither treads nor trails, if that matters at all.)

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 12:14 PM

An old friend who played football on the University of California's last Rose Bowl team (1959, I believe), would often come home with little ditties such as:

(To the tune of "High Above Cayuga's Waters," the Cornell U. alma mater):
         High above a Pi Phi's garter,
         High above her knees;
         Lies a Pi Phi's only virtue,
         Her vir-gin-i-ty.

The quintissential drinking song from those days would have to be:

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 12:26 PM

Sorry; I got cut off in mid-thread.

California, California.
We're out to do or die,
Or know the reason why!
California, California.
We'll win the game or know the reason why.

And,when the game is over,
We will drink a keg of booze,
And, we'll drink to California
Till we wobble in our shoes!

It's drink, tra la la,
Drink, tra la la,
Drink, drank, drunk last night
Drunk the night before.
We're gonna get drunk tonight
Like we never got drunk before.

For, when we're drunk,
We're as happy as can be,
For we become members of the souse fam-i-ly,
Oh, the souse family is the best family,
That ever came over from old Germany.

There's the highland Dutch,
And the lowland Dutch,
The Rotterdam Dutch
And....the Irish!

So, glorious! Victorious!
One keg of beer for the four of us!
Glory be to God that there are no more of us,
For one of us could drink it all alone - damn near!

Here's to the Irish,
Dead drunk!

The lucky stiffs!

Another beauty was:

T'was a cold winter's evening,
The guests were all leaving,
O'Leary was closing the bar.
When he turned, and he said
To the lady in red,
Get out! You can't stay here no more!

She wept a sad tear,
In her bucket of beer,
As she thought of the cold night ahead.
When a gentleman dapper,
Stepped out of the ..... phone booth,
And, these are the words that he said:

Her mother never told her,
The things a young girl should know;
About the ways of college men,
And how they come and go -
Mostly......go..

Now, age has taken her beauty,
And sin has left it's sad scar,
So, remember your mothers and sisters, boys,
And let her sleep under the bar.

She likes it thar.......

Food for the sophomoric mind.....where HAS it gone? I think "PC" doomed it to relative extinction.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Cool Beans
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 03:55 PM

Hi, Oneita. This is the discussion I was telling you about.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 10:41 AM

Thanks to all who have posted examples and comments to this thread thus far.

It's my hope that some members of Black Greek letter sororities and fraternities -and persons who are members of other fraternities and sororities-who may not have ever heard of Mudcat might happen upon this thread through Internet search engines. I'm hoping that they would read this thread, post to this thread, and also join Mudcat itself or at least become guest posters.

Their contributions and perspectives are very much needed and very much welcome here.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 11:33 AM

Z-E-T-A-P-H-I
This is a Zeta Chant:
Z-E-T-A-P-H-I Zeta Phi Beta till the day that i die, there'll be no skee no wee, no DST, I'm just a devastating lady of Z-PHI-B
-ZETAPHIED; 5/26/2006 ; cocojams

-snip-

Zeta Phi Beta is a Black Greek letter sorority. I'm guessing that to be "Zetaphied" means to fully exemplify Zeta Phi Beta ideals.

The chant featured above is a representative example of sorority or fraternity chants which promote one's own group and puts down other groups. "Skee wee" refers to the signature call made by members of another Black Greek letter sorority: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. {AKA}. "DST" refers to still another Black Greek letter sorority: Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. These sororities are incorporated organizations with undergraduate {university} and graduate chapters throughout the United States, and in some other nations throughout the world.

**

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE NO AKA
I didn't want to be no AKA I didn't want an affiliation with A Phi A And if you look at me, I aint no DST I didn't want Omega Psi Phi to
be barking at me Don't need no Kappa boy looking cuter than me And KKI aint no sorority Iota Phi Theta came a little too late And
Sigma Gamma Rho, what can we say I need a Phi Beta Sigma who can handle me Cos only blue and white is a TRUE FAMILY Z-Phi! By Spring '06 Unbreakable Line Copyright KE©

Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma are the only official, constitutionally bound, brother/sister organizations in the Pan-hellenic Council. A little information: 1.A member of Phi Beta Sigma helped found Zeta Phi Beta 2.We share the same colors of Royal Blue and Pure White, and symbol - the dove 3.Our letters together form Zeta Phi Beta Sigma 4.When Sigma's "Blue Phi" Zeta's "So Sweet" in reply 5.We call each other Frat and Soror 6.Don't be fooled by other who imitate the first and ONLY family!
-Nikki ZKA ExquiZite #3 - Spring 2003; www.cocojams.com; 5/4/2007

-snip-

AKA=Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc; A Phi A= Alpha Phi Alphi Fraternity, Inc; Kappa= Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc, and Iota=Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

This chant references the images, customs, and opinions that this sorority {and others}have about the various sororities and fraternities mentioned. Omega Psi Phi's members call themselves "Que Dogs", their signature call is a dog's barl {Woof Woof}; Kappas promote the image of themselves as handsome men; "KKI aint no sorority" ?? {I'm not familiar with this organization}; "Iota Phi Theta came a little too late" refers to the fact that this organization was just newly founded; and "Sigma Gamma Rho, what can we say" means that that Zetas don't have anything good to say about the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority or its members.   

Click http://www.nphchq.org/home.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council for information about the 9 fraternities and sororities that are members of The National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Z-E-T-A P-H-I
The Zetas also say: Z-E-T-A P-H-I B-E-T-A spells Zeta Phi Beta. The Sigmas spell their name and repeat the same refrain. This goes along with All of our love.. And is usually sung in staggered harmony with both groups (major sista/brotha thang!!!)
 -Aphrodite, Spring '84 Omicron Mu, Buffalo NY; 4/11/2006

See this example the fraternity/sorority song "All Of My Love" which follows:

**
ALL OF MY LOVE
All Of My Love, Peace, & Happiness {Comment #1}
I am a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority inc. I crossed on May 20, 1984. At that time all of the Black Frats and Sororities of the time had similar chants, but of course there were those that were unique to a particular group.

All of our love, peace and harmony, I'm gonna' give to________(you fill in the blank). It could be Zeta, Sigma, Alpha, Delta, Omega, or Kappa. The groups that usually used this chant were the Sigmas and Zetas.
-Aphrodite, Spring '84 Omicron Mu, Buffalo NY; 4/11/2006

-snip-

A number of different fraternities/sororities claim that they originated this song and strongly feel that other organizations groups shouldn't be singing it. For other comments about All Of My Love, visit this page on my website:

http://www.cocojams.com/fraternity_and_sorority_chants1.htm

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Genie
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 08:52 PM

Interesting, Azizi.

Another ditty/chant I recall from college was from the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority:

I am so hay-ap-pa thay-at I ay-am-a
Kay-ap-pa, Kay-ap-pa, Gay-a-ma.
Nobody knows just how happa ah ay-am
That I am a Kay-ap-pa, Kay-ap-pa, Gam!

(I really don't know if the song was supposed to be sung with an exaggerated "southern accent" like that or if the person -- from a different sorority -- who sang the song for me just didn't like the KKGs.)

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From:
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 09:09 PM

Here are a few I found using the Advanced Search putting "sorority or fraternity" in the search boxes

Traditional Sorority Songs
Delta Gammas do not Drink
Take Your Man Around the Corner
I Want to be a College Man

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,Masato at work
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 11:25 PM

Several songs are reported in Simon Bronner's Piled Higher and Deeper: The Folklore of Campus Life (August House, 1990), under the heading of "Songs of the greeks" (pp. 138-140).

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 12:16 AM

Thanks for that example, those links, and that information!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 08:38 PM

I found this website while surfing the Internet:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=71743
GreekChat.com - The Fraternity & Sorority Greek Chat Network

Here are two examples of Kappa Delta sorority cheers from that website:

"This one is really simple but really loud and effective when you only have a short amount of time.

you need a leader (usually someone extremely loud)

Leader: Every body yell GREEN GREEN
Chapter: GREEN GREEN
Leader: Yell WHITE WHITE
Chapter: White White
LEader: Yell Green
Chatper: Green
Leader: White
Chapter: White
All: Kappa Delta..That's right!"

-KDMafia; 11-22-2005

**

"cheer:

Boom, boom,
They'll be nothing but KD
Boom, boom,
For the one that I Love
Boom, Boom,
They'll be nothing but KD and the three stars up above
There's a KD crest for every girl that best and AOT will past the test

Boom, boom,
They'll be nothing but KD
Boom, boom,
for the one that I love!
(there are also movements to that song too!)

THERES MORE!!!!

Boom, boom,
They'll be nothing but KD
Boom, boom,
for the one that I love!

i'm KD born and KD bred and when i die i'll be KD DEAD so hooray for Kappa Delta hoorah for Kappa Delta hoorah for Kappa Delt- K-D
i don't mean to brag i don't mean to shout KAPPA DELTAS ARE THA BEST so hoorah for Kappa Delta hoora for Kappa Delta hoorah for Kappa Delt K-D

-rebecca22kd; 12-08-2005; Location: georgia

-snip-

In response to that post, rhochi2002 commented "I like that song to rebecca... Boom Boom there will be nothing but KD... I didn't know there were movements. My chapter wasn't as much on the singing while i was there." [rhochi2002; 12-08-2005; Location: where's Waldo]

-snip-

rebecca22kd wrote back "well the motions are kinda stupid, we just kinda bounce up and down and clap your hands but its our favorite we always do chants b/c during rush since we don't have housing all the sorority's are side by side so you have to out chant the others."
-rebecca22kd ; 12-08-2005

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 09:28 PM

It appears to me that there are differences between White American traditions and non-White American [largely university based] Greek letter traditions. I am struggling to find non-racial referents for these two traditions.

For instance, the abbreviation BGLO {Black Greek Letter Organization} appears to be a standard referent for Greek letter fraternities and sororities that were formed by Black university students and which have predominately Black membership.

Nine BGLO are recognized by and are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc . There are other university based Black Greek letter organizations {meaning organizations which are formed by African Americans and have predominately Black membership} which aren't [yet?] members of that Council. In addition, there are newly formed Latino, Asian, and Multicultural [university] Greek letter organizations whose chanting traditions appear to be largely based on African American chanting traditions.

If anyone wants to suggest non-racial terms that can be used in discussing the similarities and differences between White American and non-White American Greek letter chanting traditions, I'm open to considering such terms.

But until then, I'll use the terms White and non-White {or BGLO} with the understanding that I'm not implying that the White organizations have no non-White members. And, for the record, some Black Greek letter organizations have White and other non-Black members.

And for the purpose of this discussion, I include "mixed race" persons-meaning a person with one Black birth parent and one non-Black birth pareent-in the referent "Black".

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 09:28 PM

That said, I'd like to focus on the examples that I reposted from the GreekChat.com website.

The first example reminds me of an [athletic team] cheerleader cheer much more than the type of chant that BGLO do.

And speaking of the word "cheers" it appears from the heading and text used on this website that White sororities may refer to these types of compositions as "songs", "cheers", and "chants". I believe that Black Greek Letter Organizations {BGLO} rarely if ever refer to their compositions as "cheers". This may be because in my opinion, the word "cheers" sounds too-shall I say-happy happy wimpy for chants performed by Black Greek Letter fraternities & sororities.

That said, there are many contemporary in-your-face dissin cheerleader cheers that are performed by public school, community, and university Black and non-Black cheerleading squads. However, my sense is that the terms "chant" and "songs" are most often used to refer to BGLO compositions.

But even more than which referent or referents are used for these compositions, I'm interested in the description given of the way the second example was performed. In response to rhochi2002's comment that she wasn't aware that there were any movements to this song, rebecca22kd wrote that "we just kinda bounce up and down and clap your hands". rebecca22kd also wrote that "all the sorority's are side by side so you have to out chant the others".

This is very different from Black Greek Letter Organizations chanting performances. Members of BGLO do much more than bounce up and down and clap their hands. And Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities never stand side by side and try to out chant each other.

Chants are performed by representatives of various Black Greek letter organizations at competitive concerts which are called "step shows". Selected members of a particular chapter of a BGLO perform at these shows. Those members are called a "step team". It is possible for step teams representing two different chapters of the same fraternity or sorority to be competition with each other in the same step show. Step teams from particular chapters of a fraternity or a sorority may develop a reputation because of their skills, and may be called upon to travel to represent the fraternity or sorority at step shows across the region and the nation.

These step shows have a masters of ceremony. The master of ceremony {MC} introduces one organization on stage after another. Each organization has the same alloted time to perform. In my experience, fraternities perform first, and then the sororities. I've never known a step show to feature a fraternity, and then a sorority, and then another fraternity etc. At smaller colleges with fewer BGLO, step teams representing Little Sister groups such as Q Pearls, Alpha Angels, and Kappa Sweethearts may also perform at step shows. However, Little sister groups compete against other little sister groups and never against sororities. Little Sister groups are college women who pledged to {or are pledging to} an auxilary group of a specific Black Greek Letter fraternity. For instance, Q Pearls }also known as Q Essence are affiliated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Angels are affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc, and Kappa Sweethearts are affiliated with Kappa Alph Psi, Inc. These little sister groups have the same colors and similar hand signs, and calls as their Big brother organization. Many campuses do not recognize Little Sister groups as legitimate Greek letter organizations. One of the reasons why women might pledge a little sister group instead of a sorority is because there are no Black sororities on their campus, or near by. Another reason is that the Black sorority may not be accepting new members that year.

Btw, I don't believe that there are any Little Brother groups for men that are "auxiliary" to sororities, but I could be wrong about that.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 09:55 PM

Azizi-

I'm impressed with the analysis you're providing in this thread. The independent fraternity that I belonged to for about a year had no singing or chanting that appealed to me, nor were they much interested in folk music. We moved our table of friends over to the Union in the spring.

There were some interesting chants that had been passed down from one class to another. One that I recall went:

Beatles don't decay,
Beatles don't decay,
Beatles don't decay, my love,
Beatles don't decay!

Choose a ribbon blue,
Choose a ribbon red,
Choose a ribbon black, my love,
For my beatle's dead!

Three blind mice are dead,
Three blind mice are dead;
See how they lie,
See how they lie!

Cold grey bodies on the slab,
See how they lie!

Maybe one had to be there to appreciate such poetry, back in the early 60's, with a full moon overhead inspiring one to howl!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 10:10 PM

This is a continuation of my comparison of the performance activities of Black Greek Letter Organizations {BGLO} and the description of the chanting mentioned by a poster to GreekChat.com:

Members of Black Greek Letter Organizations don't "engage in anything similar to "out chanting the others" during a step show. That is, each group "steps" separate from another. Groups chant during parts of their step performance, but sometimes they step without any vocalizations. The Ques {Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.} are known for their singing as a prelude to their stepping or while they are stepping. Other BGLO may also "sing", but I don't think they do so as much as the Ques do.

During their entrance and particularly during their exit from the step show stage, organizations usually perform another movement art called "strolling" {party walk}. Strolls {party walks} are a processional movement 'dance form' in which members standing in a vertical line strut to the rhythm of recorded music while showing their signature hand sign. Particularly at the end of the step show, when they are doing their party walk off the stage, individual members of the step team may also give their organization's signature vocal calls.

Strolls are also performed at special outdoor events and during parties that fraternity or sorority members might attend. This is the one time that more than one fraternity or sorority might perform at the same time. While there still is an element of competition in these party walks, they are mostly done to express and show off the member's allegiance to their organization. All members of that organization-including persons from other chapters-can join a non-step show performance stroll line.

Stroll lines may form spontaneously or as part of a planned performance. Stroll line might move in a circle or might zig zag around the dance floor or outdoor space. Only members of that specific fraternity or sorority {including members from different chapters} can stroll with that organization. It probably goes without saying that it's not "cool" for any non-member to cut into a fraternity or sorority stroll line.

And, as you might imagine, it could get rather dicey if more than one organization decide to do a party walk on the dance floor at the same time or when "non-Greeks" are gettin their dance on.

See http://www.cocojams.com/internet_links_to_steppin.htm for examples of fraternity and sorority strolls.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 10:22 PM

For what it's worth, it just occurred to me why part of that 2nd example that I posted on 12 Jul 07 - 08:38 PM seemed familiar to me.

Those lyrics that I'm referring to from that Kappa Delta cheer are:

"i'm KD born and KD bred and when i die i'll be KD DEAD"

-snip-

From 1965-1969 I went to a small liberal arts college in East, Orange, New Jersey that was called Upsala. That college, later a university, is now closed. But I remember that its students sang a song that included those words. That verse of that song was

We're Upsala born
and Upsala bred
And when we die
We'll be Upsala dead.

Chorus:

[For it's] Upsie Upsala Sala
Upsie Upsala Sala
Upsie Upsala
We love you.

[but of course students changed that line to "We hate you"}.

Another verse I remember was

Oh Upsie is great
and Upsie is grand
But don't go there
If you want to find a man

Chorus:
Upsie Upsala Sala
Upsie Upsala Sala
Upsie Upsala
We hate you.

-snip-

Actually, we really didn't mean it when we sang that we hated that school.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 10:30 PM

Thanks for your comment, Charley and thanks for posting that example!

Charley, what did you mean when you wrote that "We moved our table of friends over to the Union in the spring" ?

And was the referent to a beatle or mice a put-down by one class of another? Meaning were those the symbols of that class?

And by "class" I'm assuming you mean freshmen, sophomore, junior, or senior. Is that right?

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Jul 07 - 10:28 PM

Azizi-

90% of the undergraduates were expected to join fraternities at my all-men's liberal arts college. Fraternities provided food, housing, and entertainment for the college residents. However, my table at our fraternity decided we didn't want to move into the fraternity, as was expected for our 2nd year. And we walked out, dining at the college union.

I haven't a clue where the song/chant came from other than it was passed on to us by an English major. It was our impression that he learned it word of mouth from another older classmate. I doubt if it were more than 10 years old, and I doubt if anyone on campus now has ever heard it.

There were a couple of more verses that implied some disregard for for the moral purity of young women, not that we had much access to any or more skill at communicating with them if we had encountered one.

The college ten years later finally became coeducational, and after a few initial shakey years became a much healthier place to be educated.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 09:26 PM

Looking for Psi Phi song from the early 1940's with the words:

Moon moon tell her I love her Oh Psi Phi Moon
Tell her, my love, like a flaming torch
Emblazons her name on my heart
Whisper again that I love her Oh Psi Phi moon

Anybody heard of this or know where I could look to find all the words?

Mom wants to know-- thanks for any help

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,ILL IOTA
Date: 11 May 09 - 08:08 PM

I heard the word
The word was grand
Right now you're standing on IOTA LAND

I saw the light
It blinded me

A THETA MAN is what I've got to be

WHO'S Ever-Lovin' PHI?
I-PHI!!!!

WHO'S EVER-LOVIN' PHI?
I-PHI

Weeeellll, if you love it like a Theta Man
Say it like a Theta Man

I-PHI-T!!!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,ILL IOTA
Date: 11 May 09 - 08:12 PM

From the Untouchable Upsilon Chapter "THE U" at Southern Illinois University. This is our signature chant

WE DRINK THAT DRINK
THAT DRINK
THAT MUTHAF*CKIN DRINK

WE THROW THAT WOOD
THAT WOOD
THAT MUTHAF*CKIN WOOD

WE EAT THAT P*SSY
THAT P*SSY
THAT P*SSY

I-O-T-A-P-H-I
T-H-E (OW-OW!!)
T-A!!! (OLE!!!)

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,ILL IOTA
Date: 11 May 09 - 08:20 PM

I PHI IS SO DOGGONE FINE
SENDIN CHILLS UP AND DOWN MY SPINE
WHOOOOAAA, YEAAAAAAHHH

ITS SO FINE
(ITS SO FINE)

ITS I-PHI
(ITS I-PHI)

*repeat until hoarse or someone passes out

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 11 May 09 - 08:22 PM

Hey, GUEST,ILL IOTA!

Thanks for sharing that chant.

I'm assuming that by IOTAs you mean this fraternity:

http://www.iotaphitheta.org/

Is this right?

**

I'm going to take the liberty of reposting this on the Fraternity & Sorority Chants page of my website:

http://www.cocojams.com/fraternity_and_sorority_chants1.htm

Thanks again!

Azizi (an inactive member of AKA.org)

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 11 May 09 - 08:45 PM

Well, ILL IOTA, let me rephrase what I wrote.

I'm going to take the liberty of reposting clean examples of your fraternity's chants under an agreement that I have with this forum's founder/owner that I can reposts guests' posts with citation.

The reason for my fraternity/sorority page is to help ensure that those chants are preserved as part of African American (and others') history and culture.

Thanks, again.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 09 - 05:46 PM

Appreciated!

Edit as needed.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 02:46 PM

Okay no offence to whoever posted this but a Delta would NEVER want to skee-wee! I understand what u mean but still....NEVER!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 03:14 PM

GUEST 10 Jun 09 - 02:46 PM

Which example are you referring to? Could that "swee wee" been made as a diss of the AKAs?

**

For those who aren't hip to African American sorority lingo, "Skee Wee" is the signature call for Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. "Deltas" are another African American sorority-Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.

Here's two examples from my website Cocojams.com that include a reference to "Skee Wee":

D to the Big ST. Bump that weak Skee Wee. That BS Z Phi B. Do this my SORORS. DO THIS (Holding the DST sign)
-Anonymous; 12/3/2008

Editor:
This is a chant that promotes one sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. (DST), and puts down its rival sororities. "Skee wee" is the call made by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha {AKA}, and "Z Phi B" is an abbreviation of Zeta Phi Beta. Of course, "BS" is an abbreviation of ...well, you know what those letters stand for.

**


1-2-3-4-5 Zeta Phi Beta till the day I die No skee no wee no dst cause Zeta Phi Beta is the one for me 24-25-26 them other girls you with sophisticated and smart too we dont skee wee we dont oooh-oop Z-Phi, Z-Phi, Z-Phi-i-i What is a Zeta what is a Zeta A Zeta is what a Delta ain't what a Sigma Rho wanna be but an AKA can't What a Kappa love what a Q adore what a Phi Beta Sigma can't get a enough of Ritz got the crackers Campbells got the soup Zeta got the Sigmas, Alpha's Q's and the Nupes Ow-Ow-Ow Z -Phi-B Ow-Ow-Ow Oh so sweet My chapter made this up Goes with Set it off by strafe Tall Tale Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated Gamma Nu chapter Fall 1997
-Tall Tale Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated Gamma Nu chapter Fall 1997; 8/14/2007

http://www.cocojams.com/fraternity_and_sorority_chants1.htm

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 11:20 AM

Here's a Greek song that I just read which might be similar to the one Guest 19 Oct 08 - 09:26 PM was looking for:

Tri-Delta Moon
Keep a-shining tonight on the one I love.
Watching him from above
Tri-Delta moon
Keep him from harm, till I hold him again in my loving arms
Thrill to his many charms
Tri-Delta moon
This night fades into lifetime
His lips whisper my name
And I know that despite time
I'll always feel the same
Tell him I"m true
And I'll love him no matter what he may do
He knows and so do you
estherjb, 08-21-2007, 06:59 PM
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=42998


-snip-

The poster also shared these comments "The tune is an old 50's or 40's song and the real title is some kind of moon but I can't remember what kind...Can't you just see Doris Day on the balcony at night?
If it was candlelight for an engagement we'd sing that song over and over and over. It lost a little of it's charm by the third go 'round but it was always a tradition."

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 11:35 AM

Here are some more chants from this Greekchat.com's thread:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=42998

My sorority has a first name
Its D-e-l-t-a
My sorority has two other names
Their D-e-l-t-a
So if you feel the need to chill
call *** **** (we added our tele#)
'cause gentleman prefer to say the date a d-e-l-t-a
(to the tune of the Oscar Meyer song!)
-GatoDnc7DeltaX3; 02-17-2007, 01:16 AM

**

We wear our pink pajamas in the summer when it's hot
We wear our flannel nighties in the winter when it's not
and sometimes in the springtime and sometimes in the fall
we jump right into bed with nothing on at all.
Here's to Delta Delta Delta
Here's to Delta Delta Delta
Here's to Delta Delta Delta
In the spring time and the fall with nothing on at all
Don't you wish that you could be there (x3)
In the spring time and the fall with nothing on at all.
-ilddd3; 02-17-2007, 03:46 PM

**

Delta Delta Delta
Who the heck are we?
We are the girls of the Deltas three
Go Delta!
Delta Tri Delta Tri Tri Delta Tri
Hey!
-RHITDeltaGal; 05-04-2007, 03:03 AM

**

Ba-doom Ba-doom
Tri-Delta
Ba-doom Ba-doom
Tri Delta
Ba doom Ba doom
Tri-Delta
Boom Boom Boom Boom
Delta DD
(descant)
Tri-Delta and you'll go the right way
Tri-Delta and you're here to stay
Tri-Delta and you will see
What a happy bunch of girls live in Delta DD
-estherjb 08-21-2007, 06:59 PM

-snip-

There are a number of other discussion threads at that Greekchat.com site which include chants and songs on some from White Greek letter organizations (WGLO) as well as Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO). It's interesting to see the similarities and differences between the structure and words of these two (undergraduate university based) Greek letter organizations. I'm aware that there are Latino, Asian, and multicultural Greek letter organizations. But I haven't found many of their chants/songs yet.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 12:05 PM

I just checked my website's pages of fraternity and sorority chants http://www.cocojams.com/fraternity_and_sorority_chants2.htm
and it turns out that I do have two chants from an Asian fraternity (and I'd love to read more examples). Here are those chants:

Nu Alpha Phi Fraternity, Inc. East Coast Asian-Interest Fraternity www.naphi.com

Lead: brothers brothers, comin' through with the NU!
Brothers: Alpha!
Lead: Nu! Brothers Alpha!
All: NU ALPHA PHI

-snip-

Lead: N - U
Brothers: ALPHA PHI
Lead: N - U
Brothers: ALPHA PHI
Lead: N - U
Brothers: ALPHA PHI
-Emil R;, 2/14/2007

-snip-

I also have one chant from a sorority for lesbian women. I'd also love to read examples from that organization). Here's that chant:

We're Coming Through
We're comin through.... Hey all you girls from the other side watch out for that Phoenix pride We're number 1 on that you'll bet girls like us you've never met. We're calling you out so don't run and hide step up and show your pride Be sure to stand tall cuz we're coming through make way for that pink, white and blue. Step back way back 2x YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Comments:
Sigma Kappa Tau Sorority Inc. is a community service greek letter organization that caters to lesbian women over the age of 21. Founded on October 14, 2005 in los angeles, california with members in st. Louis, mo. Portage, Ind. Long Beach, ca. Cockeysville,
Maryland. Kansas city, Mo. National website http://sigmakappatau.tripod.com. We're Coming Through" is our "National chant. Note to editor..... The phoenix is the national mascot of SKT, It's chosen for its supernatural powers of regeneration after living a full life the Phoenix submerges itself in its own flames coming back stronger than before. YEEEEEEEEEE is the signature call of SKT
-Salacious (Co-founder and Executive Director); 3/13/2007

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,AWEthentic #1 - DST - Spring 2004
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 12:37 PM

What is a Delta?
----------------------
What is a Delta?
A Delta is what an AKA ain't
What a Zeta wanna be
What a Sigma can't
What the Alphas like
What the Kappas love
And what Que Psi Phi can't get enough of

OO-OOP OO-OOP OO-OOOOOOP!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 08:07 PM

GUEST,AWEthentic #1 - DST - Spring 2004, thank you very much forr sharing that Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. chant with us.

This chant mentions eight of the nine chief [university based] Black Greek lettered organizations (also called the Divine nine or D9). Those organization mentioned are
DST (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc)

AKA (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc)

Zeta (Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc)

Sigmas (Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc)

Alphas (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc)

Kappas (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc)

and Que Psi Phi (Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc)

This chant doesn't mention the latest (early 1970s) fraternity to be admitted into the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), Iotas
(Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc).

Those interested in more information about the Divine 9 organizations and more examples of Black step chants can visit this page of my website: http://www.cocojams.com/fraternity_and_sorority_chants1.htm

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 12:42 PM

Ummmm...the Delta Chant "What is a Delta" is an ORGINAL AKA chant.

"What is an AKA..."

AhhAKA is what a Delta ain't
what a Zeta want to be
what a Sigma can't
what the Ques like
what the Kappas love
what a APhiA can't get enough of.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 10:24 AM

GUEST,Guest 21 Aug 09 - 12:42 PM, thanks for posting that example of "What is a AKA".

I've found that there are a number of Black Greek lettered sorority & fraternity chants/songs that several orgs claim that they originated.

Apparently "What is a ____" is one of them.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 10:34 AM

By the way, I just read this example of an old schoolyard rhyme from a 2001 Mudcat thread posted here by Mudcat member Spaw:

Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard
To fetch her poor dog a bone.
But when she bent over,
Rover came over,
And he had a bone of his own.


-snip-

Spaw wrote that he remembered this as a schoolyard rhyme 40 years ago. I remember recently hearing a Black fraternity member reciting it along with other verses on a YouTube video. Unfortunately, I can't remember which video it was or which fraternity. I think it was Omega Psi Phi, Inc.-which makes some sense because of their "nasty dog" meme. But I'm not sure about that.

I'm curious if anyone reading this thread knows that fraternity chant. If so, I hope that you post it here.

Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 11:39 AM

Just for the record, I see there are a lot of versions of "Old Mother Hubbard...he gave her a bone of her own" posted on thread.cfm?threadid=41824#605081 "Nasty Nursery Rhymes" thread.

And I didn't mean to imply that the Black Greek lettered fraternity that uses this rhyme was frontin like they had made it up. Using verses and a line here or there from schoolyard rhymes, spirituals, R&B songs, Pop songs, and other compositions is "standard operating procedure" when it comes to folk music. And I consider fraternity & sorority chants as a genre of folk music.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:31 PM

This does not strictly qualify, in that Caltech abolished fraternities in the 1930s (IIRC) and set up four student houses, into three of which it moved the three biggest fraternity chapters then existing, and into the fourth (Fleming House, to which I belonged from 1954 to 1958), the remaining smaller ones. The antiintellectualism reflected in this song, tho unlovely, was IMO a lesser evil than the cutthroat competition prevalent at some other prestigious colleges, against which it was fairly effective protection.

TTTO John Brown's Body.

On Caltech's dreary campus mid the iceplant and the smog,
There are things that often happen not found in the catalog.
Not everyone's a genius or an introverted queer,
For Fleming House is here.

    Fleming House is here to stay, boys,
    Just for college fun and play, boys.
    To the Institute's dismay, boys,
    Fleming House is here to stay.

Our teams bowl over others like a bowling ball does pins.
We have our share of laughter as we rack up all our wins.
Not one distinguished scholar, not a brilliant engineer,
For Fleming House is here.

(There may be another stanza, but if so, I have repressed it.)

Mention of the smog makes this a fairly recent composition in 1954.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 09:46 PM

Joe_F, thanks for sharing that example and that information on this thread.

**

In case anyone else does not know this, I just recently learned that TTTO means "To the tune of".

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 09:35 PM

i could be from Omega Psi Phi...thats the only thing that comes to mind

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 10:52 PM

GUEST 08 Oct 09 - 09:35 PM if you were a bruh you would know it.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 03:46 AM

The only one I remember (I was never a member of a Greek Org but my ex was in college) is the following:


She was a virgin in her freshman year
She was a virgin with her conscience clear
She never drank nor smoked nor fooled around
She was the envy of every college girl in town
But then she met up with an old Sig Tau
And she lost her own virginitau
Now she's a whore in a gay Paree
And the mother of a T K E (the dirty bastard)
the mother of a T K E

There is another even filthier one, that I will not repeat here.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 04:26 AM

In the DT Kinky Friedman, "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore"

"I ain't a racist but Aristitle Onassis is one Greek we don't need,
And them niggers, Jews and Sigma Nus, all they ever do is breed."

mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=60488


The teaks (noted above by Tam) had a great song-book. Once line was "nigga, spic and jew, all get into Sigma Nu"

---

Gargoyle, CHILL!!!!! Sincerely, Joe Offer

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 04:59 AM

I never knew the Sig Tau chant to be racist. In fact I never heard any racist chants, while my ex was in college. But then it was a small college in West Virginia with a big sports program. My ex was athletic trainer (read sports therapist) and he had more black friends than white.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 11:17 AM

I think I'd be surprised to find a sorority or fraternity that didn't have a fair amount of racism and sexism (and political conservatism). I'm sure there are lots of good things to be said about such organizations, but I used to cringe at what I heard and saw when I visited fraternity and sorority houses.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 12:57 PM

Joe, I think your comment is too broad brushed.

I'm a very inactive member of a Black Greek lettered sorority-Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. I can say without equivocation that neither that organization nor any other Black Greek lettered sorority or fraternity that I'm aware of what most Americans would call "politically conservative".

I'm sure that there are members within various Black Greek lettered organizations who are conservatives, and racists and sexists, but the organizations as a whole are not. Most of these organizations were founded in response to racism on university campuses, and, in particular, to the "White" Greek lettered organizations' prohibition against accepting People of Color as nembers of their sororities or fraternities.

And, even those these organizations are called "Black" Greek lettered sororities and fraternities, they have members who are not Black. Furthermore, there are newer, multiracial university based sororities and fraternites which have been formed in the end of the 20th century.

Joe, if by your comments you meant "White" Greek lettered sororities and fraternities, I would hope that a significant number of those organizations have moved past what undoubtedly was a racist, sexist, past. And also I would hope that some of those organizations' positions on issues-if they formally take such positions-would be politically liberal if not progressive.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,OO-OOP
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 04:28 PM

Their Sorority has a first name
(it's A-L-P-H-A)
Their Sorority has a second name
(it's K-A-P-PA)
Their Sorority has a third name
(it's A-L-P-H-A)
THEIR SORORITY, AS YOU CAN SEE, ACCEPTS THE REJECTS OF DST!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 09:20 AM

1-2-3-4-5 Zeta Phi Beta till the day I die.No skee,no wee,no DST cause Zeta Phi Beta is the one for me.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 11:20 AM

Greetings Azizi,

I haven't been able to document the "Ice Ice Baby" chant pre-1990. Have you been able to find someone that learned the chant pre-1990 ?

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 12:20 PM

In keeping with the Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. theme of being "cold", here's an example of their signature chant "Ice Ice Baby"

ICE ICE BABY
Ice ice baby,
too cold too cold.
Ice ice baby,
The black and gold
-various sources

-snip-
The "black and gold" refers to Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.'s colors.

One reason why the White rapper Vanilla Ice was not respected by a lot of African Americans was the fact that he took the "Ice Ice Baby" saying from the Alphas.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 11:31 AM

Retrieved from http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2007/02/the_second_duke.html on 2010-02-23. This is apparently from a file titled Sigma_Chants.doc.

Window to the Wall
From the window, to the wall…
Till the sweat drips off my balls,
Till the bitch breaks down and crawls,
Shoot off skeet, skeet, young ladies,
Shoot off skeet, skeet, hot damn.
Shoot off skeet, skeet, young ladies,
Have sex with a Sigma Man.
Blue, Blue Phi, Go-Go-GOMAB!

Window to the Door
From the window, to the door
Till the pussy can’t take no more,
Till the dick get good and sore,
Shoot off skeet, skeet, young ladies,
Shoot off skeet, skeet, hot damn.
Shoot off skeet, skeet, young ladies,
Have sex with a Sigma Man.
Blue, Blue Phi, Go-Go-GOMAB!

Ocean to the Bay
From the Ocean to the Bay
DST just wanna get laid,
Gonna fuck me an AKA,
Bitch put away your attitude,
Sigma Gamma Rho we’ll fuck you too!
AAAWOOOGAAAA, GOMAB!

Hard on to the Nut
From the hard on to the nut,
Till my right hand slaps her butt,
Till I shoot off in her guts,
Shoot off skeet, skeet, young ladies,
Shoot off skeet, skeet, hot damn.
Shoot off skeet, skeet, young ladies,
Have sex with a Sigma Man.
Blue, Blue Phi, Go-Go-GOMAB!

My Nuts
To the QUES! My nuts, My nuts!
To the Kappas, we fucked all your sluts!
To the Alphas, we’re watching our butts!
To the Iotas, who gives a fuck!

Unknown Title
I said the monkey didn’t make, the dog didn’t last!
The rabbit died first so we cooked his ass!
The only animal to make it cross the burning sands
Was the mighty Camel humpin’ to Sigma land!
Move back mutha fuckers the real frat is here!
Move back mutha fuckers the real frat is here!

Unknown Title
Not Bobos, but Nikes!
We don’t run, we fight!
We’re not Old Spice but Drakar!
You know who the fuck we are!
We are the true, not fake,
We give the hoes back aches!
We are the Blue, the White
And we don’t like the pussy tight!
Cause we do it like this!
And we do it like that!
We break hoes backs, and that’s a fact!
Blue Phi You Know!

More Untitled
The smoke the bomb, the drink the wine
Those dumb mutha fuckers can’t count to nine!
Do this (throw up Que sign), Do this (throw up Que sign)
The talk much shit, they drop the canes
They so confused they can’t say they name!
Do this (throw up Kappa Sign), Do this (repeat)
The were the first, they drop the bricks
Those gay mutha fuckers wanna suck our dicks!
Do this (throw up Alpha sign), Do this (repeat)

(This is a response to a Kappa Chant)
You might call me a ho, You might call me a trick
While you was talkin’ that shit, I was fuckin’ your bitch!
My who, my frat, my WHOLE DAMN FRAT!
While you was talkin’ that shit, we were workin’ our dicks!

In the Mix
Phi Beta Sigma in the mix, WHOOO!
We got big ole dicks, WHOOO!
Gotta hold ‘em like this (spread your arms wide), WHOOO!
And not like this (throw up Kappa sign), WHOOO!
And when we get tired, WHOOO!
Gotta drag ‘em like this (stroll forward like you are dragging a heavy rope)!
GO-GO-MAB, GO-GO-MAB!

Wine, Women and Neckbones
Wine, women and neckbones-sure sounds good to me!
Wine, women and neck bones-I got frat from sea to sea!
(or you can say this instead or as a second chorus)
Wine, women and neckbones-that is what I miss!
Wine, women and neckbones-now it’s time to diss!
Hey all you Alphas, they say that you are gay!
From the way you talk and the way you switch,
You should have pledged AKA!
(Repeat Chorus)
Hey all you Kappas, claiming to be so fly!
You were started by a white frat,
Guess that’s why they call you Phi Nu Pi! (I would come up with a better part here, I always hated this one)
(Repeat Chorus)
Hey all you Omegas, claiming to be the shit!
You call yourselves some Que dogs,
I guess that makes your mom a Bitch!
(Repeat Chorus and fight with the Ques)

What If?
What if the Alphas weren’t so cold, messed around and lost their home, would the Pink and Green give them a loan?
What if, what if, what if?
What if a Kappa stepped on a crack, dropped his cane and broke his back, would their step shows still be wack?
What if, what if, what if?
What if the Ques were as they seemed, messed around around and stepped out of the dream, then they could really beat the football team,
What if, what if, what if?
What if the Iotas were nationwide, what if the Iotas were statewide, what if the Iotas were campus wide?
What if, what if, what if?

Whoosh, Whoosh
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh to Alpha,
Go to hell with Omega Psi Phi!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh to Kappa,
Phi Beta Sigma’s passin’ by!
No Alpha, No Kappa, no Que Psi Phi,
I’m being faithful to Phi Beta Sigma till the day I die!
(repeat)

Throw Down My Hat
To the Alphas, if I was in your frat, I’d throw down my hat, and get my money back!
“Ice, ice baby, too cold, too cold,
Ice, ice baby, that shit is old!
Ice, ice baby so what so what?
Ice, ice baby, who gives a fuck?
Ice, ice baby, that shit ain’t right!
Ice ain’t black and gold, ice is Blue and White!â€쳌
To the Kappas, if I was in your frat, I’d throw down my hat, and get my money back!
K-A-PSI, Phi Nu Pi, anyway you spell it P-U-S-S-Y!
To the Ques, if I was in your frat, I’d throw down my hat, and get my money back!
(I don’t even remember this part, just fill in one that relates)

In the Mornin’
Nothing could be finer than to be in her vagina in the mornin’
(That’s it at this point you make up your own line and just repeat the above chorus, we USED to do this at probates, here is an example of what USED to be done)
I number FIVE, oh Yeah, I like to fuck, oh yeah,
I like a nasty trick slut who likes to suck, oh yeah!
In the mornin’ (Repeat chorus)

More Untitled
Tittie in my mouth and ass in my hand,
Nobody fucks like a Sigma man!
But if I die, before I come,
Leave your legs spread open so my frat can get some!

Subject: Lyr Add: WHIFFENPOOF SONG
From: PHJim
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 01:12 PM

Would the Whifenpoof Song qualify? Does anyone know where it originated or who the Whifenpoofs are?

To the tables down at Mory's
To the place where Louie dwells
To the dear old Temple bar we love so well
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
And the magic of their singing casts its spell

Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well
"Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest
We will serenade our Louie while life and voice shall last
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest

We're poor little lambs who have lost our way
Baa, baa, baa
We're little black sheep who have gone astray
Baa, baa, baa

Gentleman songsters off on a spree
Doomed from here to eternity
Lord have mercy on such as we
Baa, baa, baa

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 06:24 PM

Whiffenpoofs are a collegiate a cappella group at Yale. So basically, a fraternity that exists for the sake of music.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 08:29 PM

I woke up this morning, jumped out of bed,
looked in the mirror and i SHOOK my pretty head
Okay they say i'm conceited, that is no lie....
I'LL BE A CONCEITED AKA UNTIL THE DAY THAT DIE!
Pretty in pink, gorgeous in green
Since 1908, We've rained supreme!
This is a serious matter! YES!
This is a serious matter! YES, YES!
Alpha Kappa Alpha! (Alpha Kappa Alpha!)
SWEET AKA! (SWEET AKA!)
The first black sorority (echo)
WE PAVED THE WAY! (echo)
THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 02:44 AM

delta SIGMA THETA IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE SECOND THEY CAN STROLL BUT THEY DONT HAVE CLASS!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 03:55 PM

but their song is incorrect...sigma refers to a member of phi beta sigma fraternity inc. not SGRHO... them lyrics need to change if u wanna mention SGRHOs ...sigma gamma rho's are not sigmas...i thought this was established years ago?

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 10 May 10 - 04:04 PM

forget vall that bullspit with those stuck up kermit the frog B****es DST all the way

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: LadyJean
Date: 11 May 10 - 01:07 AM

I started Transylvania College in 1973. Campus life revolved around Greek life. If you weren't Greek chances are you were spending Saturday nights in your dorm room.
I went out for rush, and lasted all of two weeks. But I picked up a song or two.

Tune; The Old Gray Mare
We dig great big UH hairy chested men!
Uh! hairy chested men!
UH! hairy chested men!
We dig great big UH! hairy chested men!
We are the sweet Chi O
WE are the sweet Chi O!
We are the sweet Chi O
We dig great big UH hairy chested men, we are the sweet Chi Oh

We drink scotch and rye with the best of them,
wine with the rest of them,
beer with the Transy boys.
We dig great big UH! hairy chested men.
We are the sweet Chi O.

The Phi Mus sang Souers Fideles. (French for Faithful Sisters, and I've probably mispelled the French for sisters.) Those are the words, Souers Fideles sung over and over and over to the tune of "Eidelweiss". To sing it properly, the words should be pronounces "surf eedell". I think one of the reasons I washed out of rush was that I thought it was funny.

Then there was the kind of tuneless chant,
Oh the Deltas! The Deltas! The Delta Delta Deltas!
They're the Coolest, they're the sweetest they're the classiest!
They're full of vim! They're full of strength! They're full of pep!
(The Transy Deltas were a bunch of stuck up, skinny bitches, but never mind.)

Subject: lyr req: This Is a Serious Matter
From: GUEST
Date: 17 May 10 - 06:15 PM

so can i get the real lyrics to "This Is a Serious Matter"?

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,,gargoyle
Date: 18 May 10 - 07:17 AM

Alpha Phi Omega - the nations largest fraternity (co-ed and service oriented)

http://www.apo.org/show/About_Us/History/Traditions/Toast_Song

Score in pdf and tune in QuickTime, WAV and MIDI

ALPHA PHI OMEGA TOAST
Here's to Alpha Phi Omega,
Loyal Brothers we,
True to self and to each other
Firm in loyalty.
Daily working, daily striving,
Ever more to be,
Men of Alpha Phi Omega,
Our Fraternity.
Brothers clasp the hands of Brothers,
Strong the circle we,
Ever mindful, ever serving
All humanity.
Now we raise our grateful voices,
In our song to thee,
Men of Alpha Phi Omega,
May we always be.

Somewhere I have the songbook (mimeographed) that James Donnaly (RIP) collected as
he visited various chapters across the nation.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 May 10 - 02:43 PM

A Guest above requested lyrics for "This Is a Serious Matter," a cheer from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. A Google search for "Alpha Kappa Alpha" "serious matter" (click) will bring up some interesting stuff, including videos.
But I haven't found an "official" version of the cheer. I get the impression that "This Is a Serious Matter" may be an official slogan for the sorority, and that various members and chapters may have worked out their own cheers.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 27 Oct 10 - 09:50 AM

Hello,
I know this is an older thread, but I noticed that Aziz had mentioned that he had acquired a copy of
frat brothas who sang "you betta watch your girl cause your girl is watchin me" in a club song


Well, back in the early 90s i used to hit up the clubs and that was one of the songs that was played, and I have searched all over to see if I can find a copy of this song

If you have a copy or know where I can go get one, Please let me know I would greatly appreciate it.


Thank you in advance
If you know anything you can email me at

[e-mail]


Thank you again

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,PrettyBoy KAPPA
Date: 15 Jul 11 - 01:27 PM

WE ARE THOSE SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH BROTHERS...WE ARE THOSE SAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVE BROTHERS!!!!!!!!!!



-KAPPA'S STAND UP

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,Kappa Alpha Psi
Date: 15 Jul 11 - 01:31 PM

(NUPE ABOVE) -u spelled "suave" wrong

WE ARE THOSE SMOOOOOTH BROTHERS! WE ARE THOSE SUAVE BROTHERS!

...IS IT THE STYLISH CLOTHES WE WEAR??? -YUP! LOL

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,Tiger
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 03:17 PM

WE PUT THE 'D' IN DELTA
THE 'X' IN XI
THE 'P's FOR THE PASSION OF P-H-I !!
OOOOOWWIIEEEE! XIIEE!

Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc.
est. 4/20/1994 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 06:01 PM

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 08:26 PM

As a GDI, never much associated with frat rats, I don't have much attachment or familiarity to frat songs. I did, however, come across a couple of fraternity songbooks at the antique shop and one slow day I scanned them to PDF. Both for the same fraternity, 1954 "Songs of Beta Theta Phi", and 1955 (apparently identical) version of the same.

In "publishing quality" each book is on the order of 300 MB, and my email balks at sending one. A "web quality" version is "only" around 32 MB and might offer better odds of successful transmission. Individual pages can be extracted, assuming I've got the energy.

Lyrics appear only as part of the (piano?) scores, so separating them out is tedious, to say the least. While I don't know why anyone would be interested in this frat, it's possible that something in one of them might be similar enough to something interesting. I might respond to a PM, if anyone wants to discuss what's there and how to get it shared.

There isn't a TOC, but the Index (with no correction for OCR errors) includes:

Alpha Eta Song
Alpha Marching Song (Brown)
Alpha Omega Song (Moseley)
Alpha Zeta Song (Blakeslee)
Alternate Doxology (Tunison—Lozier)
As Betas Now We Meet (Coulter)
At the Beta Shrine (Williams)
Banquet Song (Seaman)
Beta Alpha Coming-In Song (Cahall)
Beta Alpha Marching Song (Cahall)
Beta And Idaho (Sower)
Beta Days (Byrd—Ganiard)
Beta Doxology (Tunison)
Beta Friendship (Babcock)
Beta Sires And Beta Sons (Lozier)
Beta Sweetheart (Warner)
Beta, We Praise Thee (Williams)
Beta Theta Marching Song (Ford)
Beta Theta Pi
Betas Of Long Ago (Edwards)
Beta's Bonds (Black)
Beta's Emblems (Brooks)
Carve Dat Canine (Covington)
Chi Chapter March (Fifield)
Clan Wooglin Marches (H. Lozier)
Duke And Beta (Shepard)
Fair, Fair Beta (Moore)
Fathers To Sons (Babcock)
Fires Of True Friendship (Sower)
From Classic Halls (Norton)
Gamma Beta Chapter Song (Smith)
Good Beta's Sing Forever (Foss)
Hymn Of Alpha (Swan)
In Beta Theta Pi
In Old Chi (Leach)
In The Old Porch Chairs (H. Lozier)
Lambda Banquet Song (Gregory)
Lambda Chapter Song (Dunn)
Lambda Kappa Song (Varnes)
Lambda Rho Chapter Song (Stapp)
Let All Stand Together
Marching Along (Rogers)
Memento. Amare
Militant Beta
Mu Epsilon (Keeler)
My Beta Dad And I (Shepardson—Ebaugh)
My Beta Girl (Gabele—Edgar)
Nu Chapter Song
Old Beta's Praise (Rogers)
Omega's Hymn (Wheeler)
Our Founders (Williamson)
Parting Song (Adams)
Phi Chi Banquet Song (Havens)
Phi Chi Marching Song (Baker)
Pledge To Beta Theta
Pi Praise To Our Order (Wilson)
Serenade Song
She Wears My Beta Pin (H. Lozier)
Singing To Wooglin (Louer)
Song Of Beta Gamma (MacNeil)
Song Of The Greeks
Song Of Theta Zeta (Stuart)
Song To The Scarlet (Ragan)
Sons Of The Stars (Shepardson—Strickling)
The Alumni's Return (Seaman)
The Banquet Hall (H. Lozier)
The Beta Chorus (Rogers)
The Beta Dragon (Sisson)
The Beta Grip (Eversz)
The Beta Marseillaise (Scott)
The Beta Postscript (H. Lozier)
The Beta Shrine (Hatfield)
The Beta Stars (Rogers)
The Boys Of Alpha Pi (Pyre)
The Boys Of Thirty Nine (Merwin)
The Chapter Meeting (Sprague)
The Circle Of Phi (Mumford)
The Crow Song (Smith)
The Jolly Greeks (Ward)
The Land Of Canine (Rogers)
The Loving Cup (H. Lozier)
The Old Chapter Hall (Hooper)
The Parting Pledge (Moore)
The Psi Song (Ferguson)
The Response (Lozier)
The Scarlet—Tau Chapter (Ragan)
The Sons Of The Dragon (Rogers)
The Three Stars (Hatfield)
There's A Scene (Stillson)
Through The Centuries (Ragan)
Toast To Beta (Kirkham)
To The Pledge (Rogers)
Under Western Skies (Tewinkle)
We Gather Again (Lozier)
We'll Always Hang Together (Hughes)
We'll Toast The Silver Grays (Lozier)
Wooglin's Christmas Song (Walker)
Wooglin Forever (Ransom)
Wooglin To The Pledge (H. Lozier)
Wooglin's Ode (Dunn)

John

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST,SB
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 09:40 PM

There doesn't seem to be any songs or chants honouring the many hundreds of kids (teenagers - black, white, straight, gay, male, female, whatever) who have died (been murdered) or maimed or raped in drunken hazing rituals over the last 60 years or so. Why not? Don't these youngsters deserve any recognition? Or is it an unsavoury aspect of frats or sororities that no-one wants to acknowledge?

I understand that alcohol is a major problem in frat and sorority houses. I understand that many Greek orgs. have been booted off campus for underage drinking, rape of minors, and hazing. I understand that there are many deaths a year from abusive bullying of pledges, and extreme hazing rituals. And yes I know that hazing is illegal, but in which case why are there so many deaths from it - still?

The hazing is encouraged in porn sites such as hazehim.com where amateur footage from hazing rituals is uploaded for cash. Perverts can then view this using pay-to-view. It seems that most ritual involve bum fucking or male rape.

Also I read that Greek letter hazing is even more extreme in Japan (where school bullying is rife anyway), in Asia and Canada and Europe. But thank God not in the UK.

Bearing in mind that many US politicians and leaders in industry and commerce were frat / sorority members its no wonder that the USA treats the rest of the world with arrogance as subordinate to it.

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 03:00 AM

Neither hazing nor drunkenness is exclusive to greeks. It's an almost universal problem on university campuses, or anywhere else where young people are unaccustomed to alcohol, and unaccustomed to being freed from parental and other supervisions common at lower level schools.

That includes the military services, as another "example" of kinds of places where the problem occurs.

Where the "newly free" are formed into "communities" somewhat independent of others, and especially where membership in the gangs organizations carry an implied "elitism," the bullying aspects seem to be somewhat more frequently seen, but there's been little formal study of that effect that I've seen.

In some of the greek groups, the community support aspects are a stabilizing influence that helps the members learn the needed sense of responsibility. In others, it's just party time, and irresponsible activities persist quite stubbornly.

There really are two sides to the coin, but as a confirmed GDI it might be better if I leave it to one (or more) of the frat rats with more intimate experience of it to offer any defenses of the greek systems.

John

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 06:12 PM

Delta Sigma Theta is the best sorority throughout the land!

Subject: RE: Fraternity & Sorority Chants and Songs
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 13 Apr 17 - 08:13 AM

And of course the (invented for film) Zeta Chi

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If you want to post to this thread, ask a mod to reopen it. The spammers have it it very heavily. --mudelf