UW offers $1,000 for lyrics to new anthem

Published 10:25 am Friday, May 9, 2008

SEATTLE — The University of Washington is offering $1,000 for someone to write the lyrics to a new school anthem.

The current one is a little-known song known as the “alma mater” that officials say is out of date.

Sports fans don’t worry; the UW is keeping “Bow Down to Washington” as the fight song. And no one plans to stop playing “Louie Louie” or “Tequila.”

But the university is holding a contest for a song to be played at commencements and events where something more traditional is in order. Band director Brad McDavid says it should tug at the heartstrings and be easily grasped and appreciated.

The university already has someone lined up to write the music — Los Angeles composer Bill Conti, a five-time Emmy winner whose credits include “Rocky.”

Details about the UW lyric contest are online at www.washington.edu/discovery/uwsong.

Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com