SCHOOL SONG

School of our fathers
Thy spirit first to life awoke
In eighteen hundred and thirty five
Beneath the sway of Marsh and Boake
Thenceforth did lanka's learning thrive

Refrain :
School where our fathers learnt the way before us
Learnt of books and learnt of men, through we will do the same
True to our watchword "Disce Aut Discade"
We will learn of books and men, and learn to play the game

Within thy shade our fathers trod
The path that leads to man's estate;
They have repaid the debt they owed;
They kept thy fame inviolate.

Refrain

And we their loyal sons now bear
The torch, with hearts as sound as oak;
Our lusty throats now raise a cheer
For Hartely, Harward, Marsh and Boake.

Refrain

History

Royal College the oldest public school in Sri Lanka Lagged behind other Colleges without a college song until Principal Maj. H.L.Reed composed and set to music the SCHOOL OF OUR FATHERS in the Third term of 1927.

The music was later revised by S. Schmid.
In the following year when Royal College won the MEADEN SHIELD in the schools singing competition for the
8th year in succession SCHOOL OF OUR FATHERS presented at the competition was a 'hit tune'. Much credit for the magnificent performance of the college choir goes to Mrs. H.L. Reed who was assisted by R.C. Edwards. The college song made its public debut on 13th July 1928. A college song provides inspiration, a fervour and attachment to one's old college. To the old boys its nostalgia, of the years that were, the happy carefree boyhood days. To the young 'Ones' who now bear the torch the college song is something for every conceivable occasion. They sing themselves hoarse. They sing with pride-their own "anthem". One has to witness them rendering the college song with gusto-there's happiness written on their faces. In 1968, a shorter version of the college song in Sinhala was again composed on the instructions of the Principal by the same combination which composed the first song by Messrs W.A. Wickramasena and S.J.F. Dissanayake.