When We Were the New Boys
The Class of ’68 has a unique tradition of sharing the Rod Stewart song “When We Were the New Boys” whenever they gather for reunions or other occasions. According to Bob Kaley ’68, the first time he heard the title song, it really struck a chord (pun intended). He couldn’t listen to the song without thinking of his pledge brothers and when they were the new boys.
The Class of ’68 when they were the new boys.
A Song To Share
Brother Kaley recalled, “In the fall of 1998 our class was gathering for our 30th reunion at George Ade’s home Hazelden. My daughter Megan and I were driving around campus in the afternoon, listening to the album, and it struck me – I needed to share the words of the song with my pledge brothers. As we listened to the song over and over, Megan copied down the words to the first verse on a page of a small spiral notebook that happened to be in the glove compartment. I still have that small handwritten page.”
“That evening, “Bob continued,” when it was my turn to reflect on life, the years at Purdue, and the meaning of being a Delta Delta Sig, I read the lines on the page and “raised my glass high” in a toast to my beloved Class of 1968. Every word rang true, and “with laughing eyes I could recall every face that crammed the hall” of the Great Hall. Remembrances of “When We Were the New Boys” were in our hearts.”
Treasured By The Class of ’68
For several subsequent 5-year reunions, Bob played the song on an iPod or iPad and more recently has been reading the words as a poem. Through those years the song has become more and more treasured by the class, especially since some of their pledge brothers are now “behind the sun”, having entered Chapter Eternal. In their memory, the poem has been read at White Rose ceremonies in tribute to the time “When We Were the New Boys”.
Bob Kaley ’68 holding his glass high.
Bob concludes, “It can truly be said that “we learned our lessons, and we learned them well, when we were the new boys.”
Here are the “partial” lyrics to the Rod Stewart song “When We Were the New Boys”. To hear the song go to “New Boys”.
[Verse 1]
With laughing eyes I do recall
Every face that crammed this hall
And in this room our hats were hung
And words were written and songs were sung
[Chorus]
And we held our glasses high
And we dared to reach for the sky
And we never would grow old
When we were the new boys
[Chorus]
This was our moment, this was our space
This was a jewel of a time to have graced
But they’re all sweet memories now
When we were the new boys
[Verse 4]
All these friends have long since gone
Blown and scattered like autumn leaves
Some are lawyers and some are thieves
Some are now behind the sun
[Chorus]
But I’ll never, never be afraid
From the cradle to the grave
I learned my lesson and I learned it well
When we were the new boys
When we were the new boys
James (Bo) Bockel 1969
Wonderful story and memories. The class of 1968 were our Big Brothers, the kings in the song. Now that some are behind the sun as well has some of my 69 PBs, the memories become more precious every year. In so many ways, we never grow old, as the song also sings, and that is a blessing. And Rod Stewart is a good messenger (have been to several of his concerts) with his song as he lives out his life, seemingly never to grow old. Thank you, class of 1968. I am grateful to have been to the 150-year Delta Delta celebration with some of my PBs and some of the class of 1969. Until we meet again, behind the sun. In hoc, Bo Bockel.
Dave Schellhase 1966
I always felt that my brother Mike hit the jackpot with the pledge class of ‘68. I loved the article, listened to the song, and thought about the Sigma Chi days. Thanks class of ’68 for sharing your lives with my brother. We were all new boys once. Dave S.