By Jimmy Dunne

After meeting the Pepperdine’s fabulous students, its board, administrators and alumni, the goal was to write an alma mater that pushed the boundaries of the genre.

One thing that so many in Pepperdine’s family spoke to — is how they climb.  The magnificent university is perched above the Pacific Ocean with amazing views.  They climb the hills of the campus class, they climb back down, and they do it all together.  They have classes in professor’s homes on campus, they study abroad together; and, most importantly, they inspire each other to truly make a difference in the world.  I wanted to try to capture that.

Lyrically, it steps outside of traditional alma maters, which almost always sing praise and loyalty to their school — often with words that would be appropriate for pretty much any school.

This story is of a Pepperdine senior; looking out, on an early morning to an extraordinary vista of the Pacific Ocean and his/her university below.   It’s a moment of reflection of wondering what the future will bring.  And, as the song evolves, knowing the light of Pepperdine and its family will always be there along the journey of life.

Musically, it starts with an uncharacteristic ‘verse’ — intentionally unmelodic and conversational.

It leads into the heart of the alma mater, which can be performed by choirs, their wind ensemble, a marching band, a symphony — or as a simple guitar or piano/vocal.

The “Alma Mater” ends — opening the curtain to a Coda sing along section (in the spirit of the Coda of Hey, Jude).