Since the late 19th century, Rochester students have sung about “many fair and famous streams” as they give voice to “The Genesee,” Rochester’s alma mater. Most know it by heart.
But Jocelyn Trueblood ’66 keeps a copy tucked away in her genealogy papers. That’s because she is the great-granddaughter of its musical arranger, Herve Dwight Wilkins, who graduated from Rochester a century before her, in 1866.
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Trueblood will be returning to campus this weekend with many other members of her class, celebrating their 50th reunion during Meliora Weekend.
- In Rochester Review (September-October 2016): A Class on the Cusp
From ‘professionalism to protest,’ members of the Class of 1966 ushered in ‘the ’60s.’
Listen to more classic songs of campus
The Class of 1966 was among the last of Rochester’s graduating classes to know all the songs and class chants. Still, some songs stand the test of time even today, while others may have fallen into obscurity. Here is a sample of songs, performed by today’s a cappella student ensembles.
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Dandelion Yellow, sung by the YellowJackets
Oh, the Dandelion Yellow
Tis a color rich and mellow
Accorded love and loyalty
By many a gallant fellowOh let Harvard have her crimson
And old Eli’s sons their blue
To the Dandelion Yellow
We will e’er be true
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The Campus Song, sung by the YellowJackets
You may talk of the halls of your college
You may talk of the men it’s bred
You may talk of the life you knew there
But when everything’s done and saidThough you travel the whole world over
And the fairest sites have seen
They’ll be nothing your memory will dwell on
Like the thoughts of your old college green
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The Cutler Song, song After Hours
As the tower of Cutler
So may we Prince Street daughters
Raise our voices highPledging to Rochester
Loyalty for aye
Pledging to each other
Friendship that shall not die