The Hymn

As related in part by Bill "Rocky" Mason.

      You may have sung it a thousand times by graduation. Its melody has followed you through life manifesting itself at odd times. You momentarily have a lapse of memory as to its origin but then it all seems clear, that warm omnipotent feeling transcends the confusion and the memories come flooding back. Thus it was with Bill Mason S'44, President of the Alumni Association, as he entered his kitchen one evening.

      "I noticed a slip of paper on the breakfast room table with the Lincoln Hymn written on it and realized that it must be my granddaughter's (Aileen Marie Mason S'01) homework. As a freshman at Lincoln she must learn the words and melody of the hymn.

      I smiled as I stood there thinking back more than fifty years to the first time I had heard the hymn. It was at a rally on the steps, we didn't have an auditorium in those days".

It was new, "High on a hilltop".
it was refreshing, "mid sand and sea".
it was allegiant, "Abraham Lincoln, we will honor thee."
it was ardent, "forever".
It was pensive. "Thy sons and daughters however long the trail".
it was prophetic, "always will remember thee".
it was honorable, "Hail, Hail, Hail".

      Reflecting back I wondered from whence the lyrics had come. So, I inquired amongst the many alums that had attended Lincoln with me and found out the little known fact that a classmate who graduated a semester before me had, indeed, written the words, and, with the help of her friend Pat Thomas, F'43 had sung it for the first time at that rally on the steps.

      In the little town of Pacific Grove, California, nestled between the rocky, surf thrashed beach and the emerald coastal hills, lives Patricia Cutler Aversano, F'43 whose words and emotions were so lovingly put to paper. Those words that have touched the hearts and souls of the tens of thousands of alums who have passed through the portals of Lincoln. In those war torn years of trial, grief, suffering and hardship, she had found the depth of character to pen such beautiful words. So poignant they have endured for over half a century and will surely endure for all time.

Thank you Patricia, from all of us.

HIGH ON A HILL TOP

High on a hilltop, 'Mid sand and sea,
Abraham Lincoln, We will honor thee forever.
Thy sons and daughters, However long the trail,
Always will remember thee, Hail! Hail! Hail!

Lincoln Victory Song (aka Lincoln Fight Song)

     This fight song, or victory song, was originated in a home on Moncada Way in the Ingleside district of San Francisco, the home of Rose and Amelia Puente. The sisters, Rose (Puente) Onorato S43, and Amelia (Puente) Frank S42, along with Joe Truzzolino F42, and Victor Hancock F42, spent "pleasurable times" as Victor puts it, in that home and at school forming the words to the tune of the Mexican Battle Hymn "Zecatacas."

Our colors are crimson and gold
our name stands for the brave and bold
We're out to fight, to do or die,
With all our might for Lincoln High.
We'll always strive and fight to be,
Just like the Mustangs, brave and free.
Come let us sing, let them hear
Our song of victory and cheer


Come on boys, and wave your banners high,
and we will cheer, cheer, cheer, for good old Lincoln High,
And when we show the world how our high school boys can fight,
There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight.


Our banners waving on, we're out to win the day.
And when our rivals know how our Lincoln boys can fight
There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight.

LINCOLN LOYALTY SONG

We're loyal to you, Lincoln High,
To your teams, tho' they win, lose, or tie
We'll never go wrong. In our hearts is a song.
And our spirit is strong, Lincoln High,--Rah! Rah!
So smash that blockade, Lincoln High,
Go crashing ahead, Lincoln High,
, Our team is our famed defender,
On boys! for we expect a touchdown from you.

T'hee, T'haa, T'haa, ha, he!
T'hee, T'haa, T'haa, ha, he!
Lincoln Hi, Lincoln Hi, Lincoln Hi
Bring out that dear old flag of crimson and gold
Lead on your sons and daughters, valiant and bold.
Like men of old, on giants placing reliance,
Shouting defiance, Oski-wow-wow,
We're out to fight on, fight on, for Lincoln High,
And though we win or lose, it's still Lincoln High,
We'll always be the best in any test,
Hail Victory to you Lincoln High.

The melody to the loyalty song has been lost in obscurity. If anybody has a clue as to the origin of this song or the tune please reply to us here.)

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