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Texas A&M University is a school that thrives on tradition. Aggies new and old are bonded through the events and symbols that have stood the test of time and have been present on campus for years and years. One of these symbols is the Aggie War Hymn.

While many colleges and universities have fight songs, Texas A&M University does not. Instead, Texas A&M has an official war hymn that dates back to World War I. The lyrics were written in 1918 in a trench by J.V. "Pinky" Wilson, one of hundreds of Aggies who fought in World War I, during a battle in France. It was originally titled "Goodbye to Texas University," which is Texas A&M's name for The University of Texas at Austin and stood as a nod to Texas A&M's rivalry with the school. It was created by combining several Aggie yells that were common at that time.

The hymn was ammended in 1928 because many Aggies thought the original version was too focused on the University of Texas. The new verse stands as the first verse of the war hymn, but it never fully caught on with the students, so instead the second verse (the original) is sang twice. After the second time they sing the verse, the crowd joins together, linking arms and legs, swaying left and right to "saw Varsity's horns off." This is yet another symbol of the rivalry with the University of Texas because back in the early 1900s, Varsity was the name of the Longhorn mascot. 

Below are the lyrics to the Aggie War Hymn. Now you, too, can join in at your next Aggie sporting event and Saw Varsity's Horns off with old and new Aggies alike!

Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!
Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!

First Verse
All hail to dear old Texas A&M
Rally around Maroon and White
Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies
They are the boys who show the real old fight
That good old Aggie spirit thrills us
And makes us yell and yell and yell
So let’s fight for dear old Texas A&M
We’re going to beat you all to
Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem
Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem
Rough Tough! Real Stuff! Texas A&M!

Second Verse
Good-bye to texas university
So long to the orange and the white
Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies
They are the boys that show the real old fight
“The eyes of Texas are upon you . . .”
That is the song they sing so well
So good-bye to texas university
We’re going to beat you all to
Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem
Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem
Rough Tough! Real Stuff! Texas A&M!

Here is a link so you can hear the Aggie War Hymn.

Gig Em, Aggies!