The Best School of All

  It's good to see the School we knew,
    The land of youth and dream,
  To greet again the rule we knew
    Before we took the stream:
  Though long we've missed the sight of her,
    Our hearts may not forget;
  We've lost the old delight of her,
    We keep her honour yet.

    We'll honour yet the School we knew,
  The best School of all:
    We'll honour yet the rule we knew,
  Till the last bell call.
  For, working days or holidays,
  And glad or melancholy days,
    They were great days and jolly days
  At the best School of all.

  The stars and sounding vanities
    That half the crowd bewitch,
  What are they but inanities
    To him that treads the pitch?
  And where's the wealth, I'm wondering,
    Could buy the cheers that roll
  When the last charge goes thundering
    Beneath the twilight goal?

  The men that tanned the hide of us,
    Our daily foes and friends,
  They shall not lose their pride of us,
    Howe'er the journey ends.
  Their voice, to us who sing of it,
    No more its message bears,
  But the round world shall ring of it
    And all we are be theirs.

  To speak of Fame a venture is,
    There's little here can bide,
  But we may face the centuries,
    And dare the deepening tide:
  For though the dust that's part of us
    To dust again be gone,
  Yet here shall beat the heart of us -
    The School we handed on!

  We'll honour yet the School we knew,
    The best School of all:
  We'll honour yet the rule we knew.
    Till the last bell call.
  For, working days or holidays,
  And glad or melancholy days,
  They were great days and jolly days
    At the best School of all.