A mainstay of College events, including Founders Day and Commencement, the Alma Mater traces its melody back to the 19th-century folk song, Sadie Ray, which mourned the loss of a lover with verses such as:
Oft I kissed her and carressed her
As we danced the hours away
Oft I've told her that I loved her
But she's dead, my Sadie Ray.
David Fleming Turner, Class of 1901, composed four original verses for The Navy Blue and White.
James Bird, the College's Director of Music from 1897 to 1912, arranged the tune for chorus.
The Navy Blue and White
First Verse
Time-honored Marietta,
Thy walls to us are dear.
Oh! How can we forget thee,
Or the times that we've spent here?
Thy name we'll ever cherish,
And for thy banner fight,
Nor ever let it perish-
The Navy Blue and White!
Second Verse
Gladly do we sing thy praises
And of thy heroes tell-
How many brave hearts struggled
Because they loved thee well.
'Twill be our firm endeavor
To stand up for the right,
Protect, and keep thee ever,
O Navy Blue and White!
Third Verse
Best of all we love the banner
That waves o'er land and sea,
And proclaims to all its freedom
And undying liberty-
And then our colors waving
We hail with fond delight.
We're one and all for saving
The Navy Blue and White!
Fourth Verse
Then we'll give to Marietta
The honor that she's won,
And let us hope her labors
Are only just begun.
And when we're called to duty,
To battle for the right,
Wave on in all thy beauty,
O Navy Blue and White!
Chorus
Thy dear name we'll ever cherish,
And for thy banner fight,
Nor ever let it perish-
The Navy Blue and White!