Sigma Phi Delta (engineering frat) song

Godiva
Sung to the rhythm of “Battle Hymn of the Republic”

Verse 1
Godiva was a lady, who through Coventry did ride,
To show to all the villagers her lovely bare white hide.
The most observant man around, an engineer of course
Was the only man to notice that Godiva rode a horse.

Chorus (after each verse)
We are, we are, we are, we are, we are the engineers.
We can, we can, we can, we can demolish forty beers.
Drink rum, drink rum, drink rum, drink rum, and come along with us
For we don’t give a damn for any old man who don’t give a damn for us.

Verse 2
She said I’ve come a long, long way, no man has come so far
So get me off this goddamn horse and lead me to a bar.
The man who took her from her horse and stood her for a beer
Was a slurry-eyed surveyor and a drunken engineer.

Verse 3
Venus was a statue made entirely as stone
‘Twas not a fig leaf on her she was naked as a bone.
After careful observation an old engineer discourse,
“Of course the damn thing’s broken concrete should be reinforced!”

Verse 4
A beauty and an engineer were sitting in a park.
The engineer was busy doing research in the dark.
His scientific methods were a marvel to observe,
His left hand took the readings while his right hand traced the curves.

Verse 5
My father was a trapper in the wilds of Malibu,
My mother was a hostess in a house of ill repute,
At the age of five they sent me out to pimp for my own beers.
I told them all to go to hell and joined the engineers.

Verse 6
Said the beauty to the engineer, “My beer is getting warm,
Unless some more is brought to me I’ll retire to the dorm.”
The engineer said, “Go to hell I’m not a money tree,
If you’re so goddamn thirsty you can buy a beer for me.”
Verse 7
Sir Francis Drake and all his ships set out for Callus bay.
They heard the Spanish rum fleet was a’ headed out that way.
But the engineers had beaten them by a night and half a day,
And though all drunk and staggering you still could hear them say:

Shout Chorus

Verse 8
When I was young, I knew a maid, whose heart was full of fire,
Her physical endowments would have made your hands perspire.
But she surprised me when she said she never had been kissed.
Her boyfriend was a tired engineering physicist.

Verse 9
An artsy and an engineer once found a gallon can.
Said the artsy to the engineer, “Drink up if you’re a man.”
They drank three drinks, the artsy died, his body turned bright green.
The engineer drank on and said, “It’s only gasoline!”

Verse 10
My father peddles opium, my mother’s on the dole,
My sister used to walk the streets but now she’s on parole,
My brother owns a restaurant with bedrooms in the rear,
But I’m the black sheep of the family ‘cause I’m an engineer.

Verse 11
The army and the navy boys set out to have some fun,
So they went down to the taverns where the fiery liquors run.
But all they found were empties ‘cause the engineers had come,
And traded in their instruments for gallon jugs of rum.

YELL CHORUS

This SPD brother had to memorize this song as part of pledging the Sigma Phi Delta fraternity. For him, and his brothers, the song is symbolic of the weeks of initiation into the organization.

Songs have long been utilized by fraternities and other groups to initiate new members, and build a sense of community. Memorizing the song is generally part of the new member’s joining process; knowing the song is a mark of belonging to the group. Furthermore, the song itself emphasizes how great it is to belong to this group (engineers) over other groups (like military or “artsy” types) and also promotes behavior associated with being a fraternity brother, including excessive drinking and getting women.