Though much of graduation season is soundtracked by the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, the stuffy layer of tradition is occasionally punctured by pop hits that strike the right emotional chord. Over the past few decades, a select number of songs have captured the proper feelings of pride, nostalgia, excitement and sadness that accompany such a rite of passage. As this year’s class figures out how to celebrate amid a global health crisis, here are the 20 best graduation songs to celebrate one of life’s pivotal milestones.

[A version of this list was originally published in May 2015]