PURPLE & GOLD
- Watertown High School Song
By Mary Ann (Peterson) Field, Class of ‘53
Prior to 1952, Watertown High School (WHS) used the University
of Minnesota
fight song, "The Minnesota Rouser”, as its school song. As you can see,
the Minnesota words and
the WHS words were virtually the same.
Minnesota,
hats off to thee!
To thy colors true we shall ever be,
Firm and strong, united are we.
Rah, rah, rah, for Ski-U-Mah,
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rah for the U of M.
This is how I remember the WHS version:
Watertown, Watertown, hats off
to thee!
To our colors true we shall ever be,
Firm and strong, united are we.
Rah, rah, siss-boom-bah
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rah for the Watertown High.
There was sentiment for WHS to
replace the Minnesota song with
something more original. WHS Band Director, Armond Pappone, rose to the
occasion and wrote the melody for "Purple and Gold.” His composition was
selected in Spring 1952 by a vote of the student body to be the official Watertown High School song. It was inaugurated Fall 1952 during football season. You can read
about this on page 72 of the 1953 Arrow.
The band began learning the new
song. We song leaders practiced regularly when the band practiced. This was at
7am, an hour before classes started, in the hallway just outside the band room.
Nona Marquardt and I (Class of 53) thought that the song should have words, and
we decided to give it a try. I do not recall anyone else being involved in
writing words for the song. It’s possible that we worked on it during the
summer. Our lyrics were adopted officially in the same manner as the song, and
the song was inaugurated during the Fall 1952 football season. It was a big
deal to all of us to have our own, original school song. I don’t know if the
old fight song continued to be used in some way, or was retired (and returned
to Minnesota).
It’s amazing to me now to think
that we did it. And it’s thrilling to hear the song being played and sung 55
years later.
There were four
song leaders each year—two junior and two senior girls. The song leaders were
sponsored by Tucks (full name, Tuckabatchees), which was a school service and
pep club for junior and senior girls. Song leaders led singing during games
when the band played. We wore purple skirts and white sweaters. See page 66,
the Tucks page, of the 1953 Arrow. Of course, WHS also had cheerleaders, who
led the yells.