But children, let me say,
I have been around for such
That you all never may.
A long eleven centuries ago
When I was but a hat,
This school came to grow
When four friends had a chat.
Gryffindor, so young and bold
And his sly friend Slytherin,
Ravenclaw was wise but cold,
And Hufflepuff her almost kin.
Together, those the founders four,
Made the houses you are in.
But how could you know, before,
What all of them had been?
Ages pass, and people go,
But memories still remain.
All the times that we now know
Do not make the old ones wane.
So from the lessons of the past
Take new knowledge and grow,
For from these years, unsurpassed,
Are things you might want to know.
This school they built together
With only one goal in mind:
To make the world a bit better—
Yes, all of them combined.
No houses did there used to be
When these stone walls were built.
No divisions could those four see
Nor a future soaked in guilt.
The separate houses came about
Only after the school stood,
And even then they had no doubt:
It was for the common good.
Ages pass, and people go,
But memories still remain.
All the times that we now know
Do not make the old ones wane.
So from the lessons of the past
Take new knowledge and grow,
For from these years, unsurpassed,
Are things you might want to know.
Gryffindor wished to teach those
Who were strong and brave,
While Ravenclaw sought those
With knowledge as their crave.
Haughty Slytherin favored those
Who were bright and cunning,
But dear Hufflepuff never chose;
She taught all without shunning.
Each founder chose among
The ones they desired to teach
And from this pact of friendship sprung
The four houses I now beseech.
Ages pass, and people go,
But memories still remain.
All the times that we now know
Do not make the old ones wane.
So from the lessons of the past
Take new knowledge and grow,
For from these years, unsurpassed,
Are things you might want to know.
Now I remember fondly those
First few golden years,
When all the school was strong and close
And no one shed their tears.
Those founders far renowned
Taught the best they could,
And nowhere else could there be found
Such a school as here stood.
Gryffindor and Slytherin
Were once the best of friends,
But now their houses are trapped within
A feud without an end.
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.
But friction soon began to rise,
And tempers frayed and sore,
Though they put up a friendly guise
To keep the happiness of before.
They had no wish to fight
For the words had all been said,
But all too soon the blight
Made the false peace shred.
Months and years of tension,
But then the worn branch broke.
With one word, no ill intention,
Prejudice awoke.
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.
Alas, the split began too soon,
A blight among the friends.
From such a simple spark was strewn
An end to all amends.
From an argument between just two,
All four of them soon fought.
A pair for pride and anger, too,
And a pair who peace just sought.
But these four were so adored
That their students soon joined the fray,
Starting a fight they could not afford:
The fight they must allay.
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.
But no longer could they agree,
These divided feuding four,
So for the school’s own safety
Slytherin went out the door.
But because those warring two
Couldn’t reach an accord,
Their houses, both so very true,
Would each raise a sword.
Brave Gryffindor, bright Slytherin,
Wise Ravenclaw, good Hufflepuff,
What you must realize, wizard kin,
Is that my sorting is a bluff!
Though sort you I must and will
For that was how I was made,
All of you still fulfill
The requirements that are laid.
It is my unfortunate task
To choose the strongest of all
And though it feels too much to ask
Your attention to this I call:
Do not look only to
The siblings your houses contain,
But look forever outward, too,
At all the cousins who remain!
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.
For truly, I only came about
From Gryffindor’s great plan
To secure the future and foil doubt.
And so my thinking life began.
Truth be told, but a hat am I,
Taken from Gryffindor’s head.
I have one purpose to live by:
To sort you in the Founders’ stead.
But none of you are like me.
Your minds were made accidentally,
With strength and independency,
And great you have the power to be.
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.
Mistrust and hatred came between
Two friends as close as family.
And when one of them left the scene,
There never again was harmony.
Joined as one, they never failed;
Each endeavor mounted together.
But as separation was unveiled,
They only failed altogether.
Remember that they were united
Through the need of everyone,
Common goal to them invited,
And from that need, friends begun.
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.
Rise up! Be strong!
Let your steps not waver.
I have never yet been wrong
So do yourselves a favor.
“Two heads are better than one,”
They say, without any hint of doubt,
But even two are far outdone
If you all follow this route.
Without friends by your side
You will never see success,
So don’t succumb to your pride—
Move beyond it to progress.
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.
My words echo through the ages,
But you have yet to hear.
Open your minds, unlock the cages,
And remember my song this year.
The bias ingrained in all your minds
Can be released if you but try.
Remove the plugs, open the blinds,
Think for yourself, and fly.
You must see the truth in this—
The meaning of my song.
It will help to bring you bliss,
And hasten you along.
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.
Come ye up, one by one,
And place me upon your head.
Though houses I would have there none,
Simply heed what I have said.
The Founders placed their trust in me
So I would keep you sound,
But I can only make you see:
You must look around!
I alone can’t do a thing
But sing to you once a year,
And hope my words will loudly ring
Enough so you will hear.
Heed well these words I do now speak—
Do not idly pass them by.
The strength which you each seek
Lies in “Unity!” as your battle cry.
Separate though you may think to be
In house, family, and loyalty,
I hope you know what I can see:
The only one different here is me.