School songs thumb|The Mermaid, a school icon The college's musical tradition dates back to at least 1858 when the Medal of Honor recipient and author, alumnus Horatio Collins King, wrote the alma mater, "Noble Dickinsonia" to the tune of "O Tannenbaum" ("O Christmas Tree"). In 1937 the college published a book titled Songs of Dickinson, which contains over 70 works from Dickinson's past. In 1953 the men's glee club recorded an album of college songs. In 2005–2006, The Octals, Dickinson's all-male a cappella group, recorded a similar CD.
sCHoOl sONgs ThuMb|the meRMAId, a sChool Icon thE coLLege'S mUSicAl traDitIOn DAtES baCk To aT leAst 1858 when the medal oF HonOR REcipienT and author, aluMnUs horaTIo COLlinS king, Wrote thE aLMa mater, "NoBle diCkINSonia" to the tUNe of "O TaNnenbAum" ("o ChriSTmaS tREe"). iN 1937 The cOllegE PubliSHED a boOK tITLED songs OF dickinsoN, whIch cOntains oVer 70 woRKs fRom Dickinson's pasT. in 1953 ThE men'S GLee cLub rEcoRDed An album of college SongS. IN 2005–2006, thE OctAls, DiCkinson's alL-maLe a CAPPElla group, rEcoRded A similAr cd.