Go, Lane, Go
and
Traditions
History of the School Song
Lane Tech is proud to be one of the few high schools in the nation with an original school song. “Go, Lane, Go!” was written by Jack T. Nelson, in 1915. Jack was an extraordinary student, assistant conductor of the Lane Orchestra(!), manager of the Glee Club and an accomplished musician. Upon entering Lane, he became aware of the need for a school song and set out to write one. The results were met with deep enthusiasm. Its’ first school appearance came at a football pep rally. The twenty-one hundred excited boys listened intently as the Glee Club sang “Go, Lane, Go!” The new song was greeted with overwhelming approval, but had yet to be performed in public.
Its’ debut came on December 15, 1914 at Saint Alphonses Athenaeum with the Mask and Shears’ presentation of “The Day of the Race."
The impressed audience resounded with the chorus: Go! Lane! Go!
Its’ great success marked the song as Lane’s forever.
"Go Lane Go" - written by Jack T. Nelson, class of 1915
“Go Lane Go”
from a roll off [bum bum, bum bum - PA digguh digguh digguh digguh digguh BUM BUM
DUH...dah duh, dah duh, dah duh, dah duh, dah duh, dah duh, dah duh, dah duh,
DUH DAH DAH DAH DAAAAAA... dah duh dah duh DAH DAH DAH DAAAAA NOW SING]
Go, Lane For we are here to cheer for you,
Go, Lane To you we’ll e’er be true.
Be fearless and bold for the Myrtle and the Gold,
Add laurels to our fame (Go, Lane, Go)
Go, Lane; we’re with you,
Go Lane we’ll cheer you,
Go, Lane and win this game;
Just take this as a little tip, we’re bound to win the championship,
So Go, Lane, Go, Lane Go!
(We’re with you!) Go, Lane, Go Lane, Go!
(Hit `em high! Hit `em low!) Go Lane Go!
Go, Lane For we are here to cheer for you,
Go, Lane to you we’ll e’er be true. (WE'LL BE TRUE)
Be fearless and bold for the Myrtle and the Gold,
Add laurels to our fame (Go, Lane, Go)
Go, Lane; we’re with you,
Go Lane we’ll cheer you,
Go, Lane and win this game (WIN THIS GAME);
Just take this as a little tip, we’re bound to win the championship,
So Go, Lane, Go, Lane Go!
(We’re with you!) Go, Lane, Go Lane, Go!
(BOP)
Traditions
It is very common for high schools to have their fight song or school song based on the melody of a specific college's fight song. Our situation at Lane is very unique because we have our very own! In sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team. In singing a fight song, the fans SHOULD feel part of a large, time-honored tradition. It should be energetic and rousing! The use of fight songs is commonplace around the world. Hundreds of colleges have fight songs, some of which are over a century old. The oldest collegiate fight song in the United States is Boston College's "For Boston" composed by T.J. Hurley in 1885.
"Go, Lane, Go" is in our daily planner and should be memorized by the entire student body. The reality is most students do not know the words and sometimes could care less when it comes to singing at all. PERIOD. "Go, Lane, Go!" is a challenge because it is in 6/8 and has an introductory phrase before the lyrics begin. The first line by the band starts on the big beat "2" and the overall song is repeated twice. All these factors play into the fact that the basic and generic student may not follow. In 2011 we inserted a roll-off to cue in the band (as well as the audience). Some may feel the roll-off "changed" the tradition but I would argue that it in fact only ADDED to it. At some point in time people became comfortable with performing it at a moderately slow tempo. I fundamentally feel the school song should bring a zip to any atmosphere the moment it starts. Playing the song faster does not change tradition. It simply makes sense.
Northwestern University Marching Band
here is the school fight song "GO, U Northwestern"
check out the movements!
can you listen until the very end?
University of Wisconsin - Madison
here is their school fight song "On, Wisconsin"
be sure to follow the drum major in the middle!