Eagles fight song has Shenandoah roots
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Eagles memorabilia in a Shenandoah home on Jan. 30, 2023.
SHENANDOAH – Love ’em or hate ’em — plenty do both in our valley — you’ve probably heard the iconic chant more than enough in the past few years.
Fly, Eagles, Fly, is the fight song — no, victory song — of the Philadelphia Eagles NFL franchise and has been for decades. It’s familiar lyrics:
Fly, Eagles Fly!
On the road to victory! (Fight! Fight! Fight!)
Fight, Eagles fight!
Score a touchdown 1, 2, 3! (1! 2! 3!)
Hit ’em low!
Hit ’em high!
And watch our Eagles fly!
Fly, Eagles Fly!
On the road to victory!
E-A-G-L-E-S!
Eagles!
But, did you know, the man who first had those words put to music was from right here in the Heart of the Lower Anthracite?
Jerry Wolman, a former west ender whose parents once lived at 12 North Gilbert, purchased the team in 1963 for $5.5 Million.
Philadelphia Magazine reported in 2010 that Wolman was inspired by the Washington Redskins anthem “Hail To The Redskins,” claiming he grew up in the capital city.
However, Wolman lived in Shenandoah for his boyhood years, attending J.W. Cooper Memorial High School until his senior year, when he left to attend Williamsport Technical Institute.
Of course, music has always been a staple of Shenandoah schools, especially so under Professor Edward J. McDermott, band director from 1937 until 1975 and better known as “Pro.”
Therefore, it’s likely he was instead inspired by Shenandoah musical presence at football games and in the community, leading him to gather a band and perform the fight song — victory song — at halftime of each game.
According to Philadelphia Magazine, Wolman gathered The Philadelphia Eagles Sound of Brass and championed the song throughout the 60’s.
At that time, though, it didn’t catch on, and wouldn’t until the late 1990s.
So, whatever your stance may be on this year’s Super Bowl matchup, remember that the chant heard ’round southeastern Pennsylvania came from Shenandoah.
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