The Songs of Parramatta High School

The school song is sung each week at assembly, preceeded by the Australian National Anthem Advance Australia Fair

Here are the words

Who are these advancing in youth’s gay panoply
With the flag of courage flying, a joyous company?
Challenging the future, the ranks go swinging by
Along life’s road at morning time beneath a glowing sky.

Chorus Fax Mentis Incendium Gloriae
Blue is our badge, as the blue of the sky.
We are the school, the school on the hill
That stands by the great highway.

Click here to see the sheet music and listen to a digital recording of the school song.

Here are the words to the original school song introduced in 1935 and sung up until the mid 1950s.

We're a band of happy high school children,
So hurrah for our colours two of blue.
To our school we will e'er be true.
And on land or on the sea, where e'er we be,
We'll remember our high school days,
As we march along, we will sing this song
Of Parramatta High School praise.

P-A-R-R-A-M-A-T-T-A, Parramatta High School are we,
There are other schools in galore you'll find,
But Parramatta High leaves the others all behind
PARRAMATTA, we'll always answer to that call
PARRAMATTA, Parramatta beats them all.

When at last our high school days are ended,
And in life we go out to make our name,
We'll ne'er forget rules by teachers set,
We'll always try to play the game.
So no matter where we are, be it near or far,
We'll remember our high school days,
As we march along we will sing this song,
Of Parramatta High School praise.

(Repeat chorus)


A new school song with a new tune, was introduced in 1954.

A Goodly Company
Song of Parramatta High School

Who are these advancing in youth's gay panoply,
With the flag of courage flying, a joyous company?
Challenging the future, the ranks go swinging by
Along life's road at morning-time beneath a glowing sky.

Chorus
Yo-ho, yo-ho, here we go,
Shoulder to shoulder and row by row;
We are the School, the School on the Hill,
That stands by the great Highway.

Often on the Sports Field we reap a victory;
Sometimes it is another tale and 'tis calamity!
When Fate deals this blow to us we take it on the chin:
The game we love beyond all else - draw, defeat or win.

Chorus
Yo ho yo ho, we come and go;
Some are quick and some are slow;
BUT we're the School, the School on the Hill,
That stands by the great Highway.

We journey not alone, we march with many more;
Again they tread the road with us, those who've gone before;
We are a goodly company, we're stout of heart and strong;
We gaze on far horizons, we cheer the way with song.

Chorus
FAX MENTIS INCENDIUM GLORIAE -
Blue is our Badge as the blue of the sky -
A mind enlighten'd, an ardent soul
Emblazon the long Highway.

In the golden noon-time, and when the sun is low,
We'll call to mind our school days of long, long ago;
From the mists of memory will rise old griefs and joys,
And down the years will ring again the songs of girls and boys.

Chorus
Yo-ho, yo-ho, onward we go,
Boys and girls of the School we know,
Parramatta High on the Hill
That stands by the great Highway.


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