I will rejoice when I hear the bell
Haste to the school that I love so well,
Thinking how sadly my teacher's eye
Rested upon me in days gone by.
When I had loitered and joined a group
KNown in our school as the Tardy Troop.

chorus:
Never again shall my head so droop
Never will I enter the Tardy Troop.
Oh, pity for the Tardy Troop,
Pity for the sorry group.
Pity for the Tardy Troop, loitering by the way
Pity for the Tardy Troop,
Pity for the sorry group,
Pity for the Tardy Troop,
Late again today.


I was ashamed as I well might be
When was the prayer and the hymn for me?
Turning the thoughts from the world away
Teaching the heart with the lips to pray
When was the boast that I would not stoop
Ever to enter the Tardy Troop.

(chorus)

Saturday even if we all would see
All things in order as they should be
Seeking the glove or the book astray
Who would be late on the dear Lord's day?
Where would we look for the sorry group
Known in our school as the Tardy Troop?

(chorus)