We Gather, Bound by Song

Deerfield has a long tradition of song, hearkening back to “Sunday Sings” with Mr. Boyden, required Glee Club auditions through the 90s, and the pop a capella groups the Mellow-D’s and Rhapso-D’s.

Once a week, at School Meeting, the whole school shares announcements, performances, and all manner of presentations—and these meetings often begin with the singing of one of Deerfield’s school songs.  During the spring term, as seniors prepare to graduate, they are called upon many times to join in the Evensong—to lift their voices together a few final times before leaving campus. Even at the Academy’s annual Spring Day event, alumni, parents, and students gather at sunset to sing the Evensong together; these songs hold very special meaning for students and alumni alike:

The Deerfield Evensong
Words by Richard Warren Hatch
Music by Ralph Herrick Oatley

Far beyond each western mountain
Gleam the fires of dying day;
Softly from each hidden fountain
Flows the river on its way.
All the valley lies in splendor
Hushed before the coming night;
From a hundred ancient windows
Flashes back the sunset’s light.

Now the meadow-wind’s soft whisper
Stirs the old elm’s silhouette,
Bends each leafy tower above us,
Caught in evening’s dusky net.
Now the day is done with striving;
Let the heart hold memory bright;
Soon these halls and fields we’re leaving—
Raise we song before the night.

Let the circling night be softened
By the ember’s last faint glow;
In the firelight we will gather
Bound by song before we go.
Deerfield Days are days of glory,
Memory lives in every one;
Let no other name be spoken
Till the even-hour is done.

 The Deerfield Song
Words by Ralph Herrick Oatley

Her sons and daughters rally
In thoughts of Deerfield days,
When in Pocumtuck Valley,
We sing their songs of praise,
Deerfield, Deerfield, Deerfield, Hail!

New laurels we’ll bring to thee,
Won on life’s field;
Honor and victory, to thee we will ever yield.
Let’s pledge loyal hearts again;
Come now with all your might,
And sing to the glory of the Green and the White.

And once again our voices
We lift to praise her fame.
Each loyal heart rejoices
In glory of her name.
Deerfield, Deerfield, Deerfield, Hail!

 

The Deerfield Cheering Song
Words by Philip E. Charron, Jr.
Music by J. Clement Schuler

Deerfield! Go onward marching,
Loyal though win or lose,
And though the odds may be great
We’ll fight for vict’ry
Vict’ry for you we choose.
Fight down the fields of green, now!
(Our foes) shall vanquished be.
For we will back you to stand
With the best in the land
Old Deerfield! We’re cheering for thee.





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