The Spirit of Aggieland | Texas A&M University's Alma Mater

April 21st, 2024 - the day of the Aggie Muster, another Texas A&M tradition, though a solemn one. Aggies gather around the world to remember the fallen Aggies, students or alumni, who had passed over the previous year. It is held in around 300 Muster ceremonies around the world. The first ever Aggie Muster was held in 1883, followed by the first Aggie Muster on campus, which was held in 1924 and has been held in College Station ever since. The tradition evolved during the World Wars, where Aggies fighting in the war would hold memorials for the fellow Aggies that were lost in battle. During the Muster, a "Roll Call for the Absent" takes place, where names of the fallen are read out, to which family and friends of the fallen Aggie replies "Here," to show that while the Aggie is not present physically, they are present in spirit. A candle is then lit in the Aggie's honour. After the ceremony in Reed Arena, the largest Muster in the campus, a rifle volley is fired by the Ross Volunteers, followed by a special rendition of Taps used by the university, named "Silver Taps".
With that, here is the Alma Mater of Texas A&M University - the Spirit of Aggieland. Originally written as a poem in 1926 by Marvin H. Himms, it was composed by then-Fightin' Texas Aggie Band director Richard J. Dunn. The song gradually became the official Alma Mater of the university and it is sung in multiple university events, athletic games and competitions, and especially the Aggie Muster. In 1963, the last two lines of the chorus were changed, following the name change from "Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas" (Texas A.M.C.), to simply, Texas A&M University. That version is the official lyrics of the university. Yet, to pay respects to the school's history, students and the university's Singing Cadets still sing the widely known, original lyrics.
(will post the second, more modern, yet rarely sung version one day here)
NOTE: During the Aggie Muster, the second chorus/yell sequence is not sung and is traditionally deleted during the ceremony.
Hope you'll enjoy the Spirit of Aggieland - one of many notable traditions in Aggieland! Thanks and Gig 'em!
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LYRICS
Verse:
Some may boast of prowess bold
Of the school they think so grand
But there's a spirit can ne'er be told
It's the Spirit of Aggieland.
Chorus 1:
We are the Aggies - the Aggies are we
True to each other as Aggies can be
We've got to fight boys
We've got to fight!
We've got to fight for Maroon and White
After they've boosted all the rest
Then they will come and join the best
For we are the Aggies - the Aggies are we
We're from Texas A.M.C.!
(Hump it, Ags!)
Chorus 2 (yell sequence):
T-E-X-A-S A-G-G-I-E
Fight! Fight! Fight-Fight-Fight!
Fight! Maroon! And white-white-white!
A-G-G-I-E
Texas! Texas! A-M-C!
Gig 'em, Aggies! 1 - 2 - 3!
Farmers Fight! Farmers Fight!
Fight! Fight!
Farmers, Farmers Fight!
(wildcat) Ay Whoop!
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