Go Birds. If you’ve ever been within a five-mile radius of Lincoln Financial Field on a Sunday, those two words are basically a lifestyle. But the real glue that holds the Philadelphia Eagles fanbase together—through the Super Bowl highs and the "bench the quarterback" lows—is the Fly Eagles Fly song. It’s more than just a catchy tune. It’s a Pavlovian trigger. You hear those first few notes and suddenly you’re spelling out "E-A-G-L-E-S" at the top of your lungs, even if you’re at a wedding or a funeral. Honestly, Philly fans are just built different.
The song is officially titled "The Fight Song," but nobody calls it that. If you asked a guy in a Brian Dawkins jersey for "The Fight Song," he’d probably look at you like you have two heads. It’s Fly Eagles Fly. It’s the anthem of a city that wears its heart, and its frustration, on its sleeve.
The Weird History You Didn’t Know
Believe it or not, the song didn't just drop out of the sky when the team was founded. It’s got a bit of a messy history. Back in the 1960s, Charles Borrelli and Roger Courtland cooked up the original version. It was called "Fight! Eagles! Fight!" back then. It sounded a lot more like a traditional college marching band song because, well, that’s what fight songs were in the mid-20th century. It had this sort of "big band" swing to it that feels almost charmingly dated if you listen to the archival recordings today.
Then it just... disappeared. For a long time, the song wasn't really a thing.
The team struggled. The 70s and 80s happened. It wasn't until the late 90s—1997 to be exact—that the team decided they needed to inject some tradition back into the Vet. They revamped it, changed the key, and simplified the lyrics. That’s when it became the version we recognize today. They shortened it, punched up the tempo, and made sure that the spelling of the team name at the end was the focal point. It was a marketing move that accidentally became a cultural phenomenon.
Changing the Tempo
The 1997 version was orchestrated specifically to be easy to sing while potentially intoxicated and definitely freezing. If a song is too complex, a stadium of 70,000 people will never stay in sync. By keeping the melody linear and the rhythm driving, the Eagles created something that cuts through the wind coming off the Delaware River.
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What the Lyrics Actually Mean to Fans
The lyrics are simple. Almost deceptively so.
Fly, Eagles Fly!
On the road to victory!
Fight, Eagles fight!
Score a touchdown 1, 2, 3!
Hit 'em low!
Hit 'em high!
And watch our Eagles fly!
Fly, Eagles Fly!
On the road to victory!
E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!
"Hit 'em low, hit 'em high" is a bit of a throwback to old-school football. You don't hear people talk about "hitting 'em high" much anymore because of modern player safety rules and targeting penalties. But in the context of the song, it’s about total dominance. It’s about the grit that Philadelphia identifies with. This is a city that loves a backup quarterback (looking at you, Nick Foles) and a gritty underdog story. The song reflects that. It isn't flowery. It’s a blueprint for a win.
The Ritual of the Spelling
You can't talk about the Fly Eagles Fly song without talking about the spelling. E-A-G-L-E-S. It’s the most important part. It’s the punctuation mark.
I’ve seen fans do the spelling at 35,000 feet on a flight to an away game. I’ve seen it at the Philadelphia Orchestra. It has become a universal greeting among Philadelphians worldwide. If you see someone in an Eagles hat in London or Tokyo, you don't say hello. You start the chant. It’s a tribal identifier.
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The Psychology of the Chant
Psychologically, collective singing creates a sense of "in-group" belonging. For Eagles fans, who are often portrayed by national media as the "villains" of the NFL (thanks, Santa Claus and the snowballs), the song is a defensive perimeter. It’s a way of saying, "We’re here, we’re loud, and we don't care if you like us."
Why it Ranks Above Other Fight Songs
NFL fight songs are a dying breed. Most teams just blast "Seven Nation Army" or some generic trap beat to get the crowd going. Only a few teams have kept their traditional fight songs alive and relevant. The Redskins (now Commanders) had "Hail to the Redskins," but that’s been altered and distanced for obvious reasons. The Bears have "Bear Down, Chicago Bears," which is classic but lacks the "punch" of Philly’s anthem.
The Fly Eagles Fly song stays relevant because the team integrates it into every single score. When the pyrotechnics go off after a touchdown, the song follows immediately. It’s baked into the game-day experience in a way that feels organic rather than forced.
- Versatility: It works for the marching band. It works for a DJ. It works a cappella.
- Pacing: It’s short. You can sing the whole thing in under 30 seconds.
- The Spelling: No other team has a spelling chant that is as rhythmic or satisfying to scream.
Common Misconceptions and Debates
People often argue about the "Hit 'em low, hit 'em high" line. Some newer fans think it’s "Hit 'em hard, hit 'em high," but the original sheet music from the 90s revival confirms the "low/high" phrasing.
Another weird thing? The song used to be in the key of B-flat major. Most modern stadium renditions are pitched slightly differently to accommodate the roar of the crowd, which tends to sit at a lower frequency. If you try to sing it in a high register, you’ll lose your voice by the second quarter.
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Then there’s the "Patsy Cline" connection. Wait, what? No, there isn't one. But there is a persistent myth in some circles that the melody was ripped from an old folk song. It wasn't. It was an original composition designed specifically for the team.
How to Properly Use the Song
If you're a new fan or just visiting the Linc, don't be that person who just hums along. You have to commit.
- Learn the rhythm of the spelling. It’s not a fast E-A-G-L-E-S. It’s deliberate. E! (pause) A! (pause) G! (pause) L! (pause) E! (pause) S! (pause) EAGLES!
- Wait for the touchdown. Don't start singing it randomly in the concession line unless a big play just happened on the screens.
- The Fist Pump. On the "Fly, Eagles Fly" lines, the standard move is a rhythmic fist pump or the "eagle wings" arm motion if you’re feeling particularly spirited.
The Business of the Anthem
From a branding perspective, the Fly Eagles Fly song is a goldmine. The Eagles have trademarked various aspects of the "Fly Eagles Fly" slogan. It’s on the hats, the shirts, the endzones. It’s a masterclass in how a piece of music can become a brand identity. When the Eagles won Super Bowl LII, the song was played so many times in the city that it probably broke some kind of local broadcast record. It was the soundtrack to the greatest night in Philly sports history.
Actionable Steps for the Ultimate Fan Experience
If you want to truly appreciate the song, you have to experience it in its natural habitat. It sounds different when it’s vibrating through the concrete of the stadium.
- Visit the Shore: Go to any bar in North Wildwood or Sea Isle City during a playoff game. You will hear the song every 15 minutes. It’s a great way to learn the nuances of the crowd's timing.
- Check the History: Look up the 1960s version on YouTube. It’s fascinating to hear how "polite" it sounds compared to the aggressive, modern version we use now.
- Respect the Band: Pay attention to the Philadelphia Eagles Pep Band. They’re the ones keeping the live instrumentation alive. They play in the lots and the concourses, and they are the unsung heroes of the song’s longevity.
The song isn't going anywhere. Even as the NFL changes and stadiums become more like high-tech theaters, the simplicity of Fly Eagles Fly keeps it grounded. It’s a link to the past and a bridge to the next generation of fans who will inevitably learn to spell "Eagles" before they learn to spell their own names. That’s just how it works in Philadelphia.