Cardigan’s School Song

The familiar Cardigan Hymn that we sing at every major school event was not always our school song! Back in 1951, young faculty members Don Stowe and Norm Wakely crafted new words to a familiar Washington & Lee University fight song:

Now here's to dear old faithful Cardigan
And to the friends who helped to lead us on
We give our thanks and praise to everyone
For all the good times and the fun, fun, fun, fun fun.

And in the years to come we'll tell our sons
About the many things that we have done
So here's to dear old faithful Cardigan, Cardigan --
Three Cheers to you!

Known as the “Washington & Lee Swing,” the tune had been made popular—not to say ubiquitous—by a hit 1930 recording released by Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut Yankees. For more, see the Winter 2024 issue of the Chronicle.