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'The Bengals Growl' is the Bengals fight song, and its been so since the NFL came to Cincinnati

After the Cincinnati Bengals score during home games, two things happen Paul Brown Stadium is filled with a polka like tune that has been sung since the team was founded.

And then the Who Dey chant is proclaimed.

Together they can be considered the team's fight song (play Todd Rundgren's "Bang the Drum All Day" to complete the post touchdown trilogy), and both have become connected to the city beyond football.

"The Bengals Growl" was written by George "Red" Bird in 1968. He was Paul Brown's former neighbor when he lived in Massillon. Before Brown ever coached the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns and founded the Bengals, he spent eight years building one the state's most famous high school programs at Washington High School in Massillon.

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Once written and recorded, Brown brought it to Cincinnati where it has been played after every Bengals touchdown in Cincinnati.

What are the lyrics to the Bengals fight song?

Here's how to sing "The Bengals Growl"

Hear that Bengal Growlin’

Mean and angry,

Hear he comes a prowlin’,

Lean and hungry.

An offensive brute,

Run, pass or boot,

And defensively,

He’s rough … tough.

Cincinnati Bengals,

That’s the team we’re going to cheer to victory,

Touchdown Bengals,

Get some points up on the board and win a game for Cincinnati.

The Who Dey Chant

How the Who Dey started is up for debate. But it began in the 1980s and beer may have been involved.

Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Company just may be responsible for the chant. Bengals great, and radio announcer, Dave Lapham explained in the 2015 article:

"... beer vendors and bartenders selling Hudepohl at Riverfront Stadium and at bars across Cincinnati began shouting, Hudy or HuDey for the beer name as that bears a phonetic similarity to who they."

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals fight song: Who Dey and Cincinnati Bengals Growl