“Lance Up, CBU!” becomes official school song

Riverside, Calif. (October 19, 2017)—It took well over a half century to nail down a school song, but “Lance Up, CBU!” has made its way into Lancer lore as the official school song for California Baptist University.

The song is catchy, short, repetitive and meant to add excitement and enthusiasm to Lancer sporting events.

Dr. Steve Posegate, associate professor of music at CBU, composed the song. He said with the university scheduled to advance to NCAA Division I athletics in the summer of 2018, members of the music faculty were discussing creating an official fight song.

“I thought to myself at the time, I can write one,” said Posegate, who has a master’s degree in music composition and a doctorate in music education. “All great schools have a great song.”

Posegate was warned that there had been multiple previous attempts at writing a fight song throughout the years.

“I guess they just didn’t reflect what CBU is all about,” Posegate said.

Determined to use his gifting to write a legacy song for the Lancer Nation, Posegate spent two weeks writing “Lance Up, CBU!” Some 40 versions later, he felt the song was at last where it needed to be.

Written for concert band, “Lance Up, CBU!” features a total of 22 different musical parts. Posegate turned to Thomas Goddard, adjunct professor of music, to write the drumline section. Goddard works with the drumline team in the Shelby and Ferne Collingsworth School of Music. Posegate said the drumline feature will bring additional energy to sporting events. 

After Posegate composed his song, Matthew McConnell, technical director in the School of Music, arranged for the pep band, drumline and vocalists to record a rough cut.

“I got a lot of positive vibes about the project; everybody liked the core of the song,” Posegate said.

At their regular fall meeting, the CBU Board of Trustees agreed, voting to accept the new song into Lancer history on Sept. 29, 2017.

Lance Up, CBU!
Words and music by
Steve Posegate, D.M.A

C-B-U
Live your purpose every day
C-B-U
Lance up! We’re ready to play
C-B-U
Go, Lancers!
C-B-U
Go, Lancers!
C-B-U
Win a victory to lift our name.
L-A-N-C-E-R-S!