Not The Same Old Song

When songwriter extraordinaire Jimmy Dunne offered to write a new alma mater for Pepperdine, the answer from University leadership was an unqualified yes. Dunne, who has worked for many years writing music for television, film, and an array of popular vocalists, has also composed a number of alma maters. “I just find it so rewarding to get under the skin of a university and to try and express that through music,” he says. And as the parent of Caruso School of Law graduate Alexis Dunne (JD ’19), he had a special affinity for Pepperdine.

To develop a sense of the school from the perspective of those who know it best, Dunne met and chatted with students, faculty, and alumni. One alumnus’ quip about the school’s challenging topography inspired Dunne to adopt the theme of climbing—“both the physical act of climbing and, more importantly, the sense of climbing together, overcoming hurdles, and getting to your destination together.”

“While walking up the hill to the cross at the top of campus, I was imagining what a Seaver College senior would be thinking about as they climbed and looked out at the vista,” said Dunne. “The sense of wondering what their next chapter would be and realizing that they’re blessed to bring with them the Pepperdine family to give them confidence and inspiration on their journey.”

The new version of the song also includes a reference to the light of the lantern, a sort of lyrical leitmotif that provides a symbol of the light that Pepperdine shines on students—the light of knowledge and truth, as well as the light of Christ. And, adds Dunne, “the light that students are bringing into the world.”