An Alma Mater song is an official song, anthem, or hymn of a high school, college or university.  It differs from a fight song as these are usually played at athletic events and pep rallies.  The phrase is variously translated as "nourishing mother", suggesting that a school provides intellectual nourishment to its students.  It is also common for former students to call their high school or college/university my "alma mater".

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Tygarts Valley Alma Mater

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The official name of Tygarts Valley Middle/High School's Alma Mater is "Far Above Cayuga's Waters" and was first used as the alma mater of Cornell University beginning in 1906.  This song is one of the better-known alma maters in the United States. It is the only alma mater song included in Ronald Herder's 500 Best-Loved Song Lyrics.  In a novel, Betty Smith called it "the saddest and oldest of all college songs".  

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The lyrics to Tygarts Valley's Alma Mater are below.  There are 3 verses to the alma mater, but usually only the first verse is sung or performed.  The only exception to this would be at graduation, where all 3 verses would be presented.  The 2nd and 3rd verses are represented with an asterisk below.

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Close beside the Tygarts waters

Of historic fame

Stands our dear old Alma Mater

Glorious her name

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Lift the chorus

Send it onward

Loud her praises ring

Hail to Thee

Dear Tygarts Valley

Hail all hail we sing

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*Nestled in a quiet hamlet

Neath the azure blue

Sends she forth her sons and daughters

Loyal loving true

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Lift the chorus

Send it onward

Loud her praises ring

Hail to Thee

Dear Tygarts Valley

Hail all hail we sing

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*Fondly in our memories resting

Happy gladsome days

Still to thee dear Tygarts Valley

Offer we our praise

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Lift the chorus

Send it onward

Loud her praises ring

Hail to Thee

Dear Tygarts Valley

Hail all hail we sing

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Tygarts Valley Fight Somg

 

The TVMHS Fight Song is "On Wisconsin!".  "On, Wisconsin!" is the fight song of the Wisconsin Badgers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. With modified lyrics, it is the official state song of Wisconsin.  "On, Wisconsin!" was also the cry that Arthur MacArthur, Jr. used in the Battle of Chattanooga at Missionary Ridge, in the Civil War.

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The tune was composed in 1909 by William T. Purdy as "Minnesota, Minnesota," with the intention of entering it into a competition for a new fight song at the University of Minnesota.  "On, Wisconsin!" was regarded by march king John Philip Sousa as "the finest of college marching songs".  It has become one of the most popular fight songs in the country, with some 2,500 schools using some variation of it as their school song.

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