I'm thankful that our paths have crossed,

If even for a year.

But after that, most of the friends

You've met may disappear.

Life takes us many places,

And spreads us far and wide,

And if we meet again—well,

We hope that that's implied.

But don't you be discouraged.

Don't you start to cry.

Remember all the times we've spent

Before we say goodbye.

My first year at Clarkson,

I was certainly naive.

I spent my time preparing for my future,

Or that's what I believed.

I went to most of the functions,

I played at all the games,

My GPA was great,

But that was all that I could claim.

So I stepped up into leadership

And took a bigger role,

Because I could do my homework later,

But I couldn't rewatch our goals.

Though I am here for my degree,

And to expand my science knowledge,

I've got a lifetime to be focused,

But only a few short years in college.

Because now is not a time to be quiet,

But a time to be with friends,

So take that leap of faith

Before the journey ends.

It took a while to work it out.

I still make all the games.

Some may think I'm different now,

Or that I may have changed.

Starting here four years ago,

I was scared I'd be alone,

But with every practice, game, and party,

I knew I'd found my home.

You'll always have each other.

You'll always have the band.

Remember all the times we've spent

Making Clarkson grand.

We took our share of trophies,

Of flags and shirts and trees,

We got wasted at Cornell,

And brought St. Lawrence to their knees.

Memories are what you'll have

When you all go away.

Keep them nestled safe inside

For a rainy day.

There'll come a time to bring them out,

To show them off with flair,

To reminisce with friends of old,

And make new ones aware.

Of how you had the greatest time,

Or of a sad defeat.

But either way, we spent our knights

Chanting on our feet.

We will not spend our knights alone,

We don't give up that soon.

We hope the game is worth it

When we all spit out a tune.

There might be times after you've gone

When you are pretty low.

Just think of all the things we did,

Of how that horn would blow.

The crowds that yelled out with us,

The ones that called right back,

The ones that threw food at us,

And those who watched our team come back.

Before you go out galavanting,

Think of the shelf you'll keep.

Your books can be so full of heart,

Or equal parts deceit.

So in closing...

Who can take a freshman?

Keep them for four years?

Give them friends to cherish

And watch them fight back the tears?