Texas A&M is a cult. People say that all the time, mostly as a joke, but if you’ve ever stood in the middle of Kyle Field while 100,000 people link arms and saw back and forth in unison, you might start to believe it. At the heart of that madness is a song. It isn’t just a school fight song; it's a piece of living history that has barely changed since a guy named J.V. "Pinky" Wilson scribbled it down on the back of a candy wrapper while hunkered down in a trench during World War I. Honestly, the lyrics Aggie War Hymn fans scream every Saturday represent one of the most stubborn, tradition-bound pieces of music in American collegiate history.
It’s loud. It’s aggressive. And yeah, it’s mostly about a school they don’t even play in the same conference anymore.
The Trenches and the Candy Wrapper
Pinky Wilson wasn't a professional songwriter. He was a Marine. Back in 1918, while stationed in France during the Great War, he started piecing together the verses that would eventually define Texas A&M. He wanted something that captured the spirit of the school, which at the time was an all-male military college. When he finally got back to College Station, he entered his creation into a contest. It didn't win immediately, but the students loved it. By 1920, it was the official anthem.
You’ve gotta realize how rare that is. Most fight songs are written by committee or commissioned from music professors. This one was born out of genuine homesickness and the grit of a soldier. It shows. There’s a rhythmic, marching quality to the beat that makes you want to move.
What Are the Lyrics Aggie War Hymn Fans Actually Singing?
If you listen closely, you’ll notice something weird. The song basically spends its entire duration "dissing" the University of Texas. Even though A&M moved to the SEC years ago, the lyrics remain frozen in time, obsessed with the "longhorns" and "tu."
The first verse—the one most people actually know—goes like this:
Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!
Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!
Wait, what? People always ask what "Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!" means. Truthfully? It’s nonsense. It’s an onomatopoeic representation of a cannon firing and the shell whistling through the air. It’s a rhythmic chant meant to build energy before the actual melody kicks in.
Then we get into the meat of it:
All hail to dear old Texas A&M!
Good-bye to texas university.
So long to the orange and the white.
Good luck to dear old Texas A&M,
They are the boys who show the real old fight.
“The eyes of Texas are upon you,”
That is the song they sing so well, (sounds like HELL!)
So let’s give a yell!
(Yell)
Done with Texas, evermore!
The "(sounds like HELL!)" part is an unofficial addition that every student yells at the top of their lungs. It’s a direct jab at UT’s alma mater, "The Eyes of Texas." The rivalry is so baked into the DNA of the lyrics Aggie War Hymn provides that it feels incomplete without the hostility.
The Second Verse Nobody Knows
Did you know there’s a second verse? Most people don't. Even some die-hard Ags struggle with it because it’s rarely played at games. Pinky wrote a verse that was much more focused on the actual game and the school itself, rather than just mocking the Longhorns. It mentions the "Maroon and White" and the "farmers" (the original nickname for A&M students before they were officially "Aggies").
Usually, when the band plays the song, they play the first verse twice. Why? Because the fans wanted more time to "saw varsity's horns off."
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The Swaying: A Physical Extension of the Lyrics
The lyrics are only half the story. When the song hits the part about "sawing varsity's horns off," the entire crowd links arms and begins to sway side to side. It’s called "sawing."
If you’re on the upper deck of Kyle Field, you can actually feel the concrete swaying beneath your feet. It’s terrifying for first-timers. Engineers have actually had to reinforce the stadium to make sure the combined rhythmic movement of 100,000 people doesn’t literally bring the building down. It’s a physical manifestation of the lyrics. You aren't just singing about the rivalry; you're acting it out.
Why the Song Refuses to Change
When Texas A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012, there was a lot of talk about whether the song should change. Since they weren't playing UT every year anymore, some thought the lyrics were outdated. "Why are we singing about a school we don't even play?"
The answer was a resounding "No."
Aggies are nothing if not traditionalists. To change the lyrics would be to betray Pinky Wilson and the generations of cadets who sang those exact words. Plus, with the rivalry officially back on the schedule as of 2024, the lyrics feel more relevant than ever. It’s a reminder that history in college sports isn't something you just delete because of a conference realignment.
How to Sing It Without Looking Like a Tourist
If you find yourself in College Station, don't just stand there. But also, don't overdo it. Here's the deal:
- Don't clap on the off-beat. The rhythm is a march. Keep it steady.
- The "Hullabaloo" part is fast. Don't get tripped up on the "Caneck! Caneck!" bits.
- Wait for the hiss. After certain parts of the song, Aggies do a "hiss" (a "Whoop!" or a "Gig 'em").
- Brace yourself for the sway. When the person next to you grabs your arm, just go with it. Lean into the person next to you. If you resist, you'll mess up the row.
The lyrics Aggie War Hymn uses are short, punchy, and incredibly easy to memorize. That’s by design. It’s meant to be shouted by tired, sweaty people in the fourth quarter.
The Cultural Impact Beyond the Stadium
This song has been played at weddings, funerals, and on battlefields. There are stories of Aggies in World War II and Vietnam humming the tune to identify each other in the dark. It’s a beacon. It’s weird to think a song that basically says "Goodbye to Austin" could have that much emotional weight, but that's the power of the 12th Man.
It's also worth noting that the "War Hymn" is consistently ranked by publications like Sports Illustrated and ESPN as one of the top three fight songs in the country. It’s not because the music is complex—it’s actually pretty simple—but because of the sheer volume and commitment of the people singing it.
Actionable Next Steps for the New Aggie Fan
If you're heading to your first game or just trying to understand the hype, here is what you should actually do:
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- Watch a video of the "Midnight Yell." This happens the night before every home game. You’ll see thousands of people practicing these lyrics in the dark. It’s the best way to hear the cadence without the roar of the band drowning it out.
- Learn the "sawing" motion. It’s not a gentle sway; it’s a purposeful, rhythmic lean. Practice it so you don't lose your balance when 100,000 people start moving.
- Respect the "Whoop." You’ll hear this word constantly. It’s an expression of approval, but technically, only juniors and seniors are supposed to say it. If you’re a guest, just stick to the lyrics of the hymn.
- Listen to the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band version. Most recordings you find online are choral or pop versions. To get the real feel, you need the brass-heavy, military-style arrangement played by the band. That’s the version that makes the ground shake.
The lyrics Aggie War Hymn provides might seem like a relic of a different era, but in College Station, they are the gospel. Whether you love the school or hate it, you have to respect a fan base that has been singing the same "goodbye" to their rival for over a hundred years without missing a single beat.