Loyalty: King of Fight Songs

I think i’m just going to go around asking people what they think about ames high loyalty. Make sure it has a more definitive base—who wrote it and when, how it’s changed, maybe talk to the old band director or something. According to the AHS Alumni Association, the lyrics and music to Ames High Loyalty were created by Richard Day, who was a band director here for at least 35 years. To the average Ames High student, and definitely to anyone in band, Loyalty may seem, and sound a little bland, and much over-played. However, Ames High Loyalty was cited as being among the best of Iowa High School Fight songs, by Chuck Offenburger in a column for the Des Moines Register, back in 1997. Contrary to popular belief, Loyalty isn’t the only “fight song” that Ames High has. The Alumni Association provides the lyrics to another “generic” fight song, titled AHS Fight Song, on their website. It’s interesting to note that the same page has lyrics to a Central Iowa Conference Fight song (1926 to 1968) and a Big Eight Conference Fight song. What separates these from generic Loyalty, is that these songs go out of their way to bash other Iowa schools. C.I.C. Song Lyrics (Central Iowa Conference 1926 to 1968) We don’t care ’bout the fame of ol’ Marshalltown Or the feats of Osky High; And Grinnell is a team that we love to beat And the same goes for old Boone High. Oh! Don’t send my poor boy to Newton I’d rather see him die. Send my boy to A.H.S. It’s the bestest of the best. Lend an ear, give a cheer For old Ames High School Fight, fight, fight, fight (music) (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap) Ames High Big Eight conference song We don’t care ’bout the fame of ol’ Marshalltown Or the feats of Newton High; Cedar Falls is a team that we love to beat, and the same goes for Mason City High. Yah Team! Don’t send your boys to Fort Dodge I’d rather see them die. Waterloo both East and West, A.H.S. is still the best Lend an ear, give a cheer For old Ames High School Fight, fight, fight, fight Present-day Fight Song Students at Ames Senior High Proud of our school are we Cheering the orange and the black On to a victory Rah, Rah, Rah! Comrades at work and at play Loyal and true are we Doing the best for our high school Ames Hi, Aims High!