He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I look at faces that I meet?
Can I get my punk-ass off the street?
I've been living on for so long
Can I graduate?
To the bastard talking down to me
Your whipping boy calamity
Cross your fingers, I'm going to knock it all down
Can I graduate?
Echo fading, we can't let go
She goes walking by in slow-mo
Sell your heart out for a buck
Go on, fade out before I get stuck
Talking to somebody like you
Do you live the days you go through?
Will this song live on long after we do?
Can I graduate?
Can I look at faces that I meet?
Can I get my punk-ass off the street?
Won't die on the vine
I want to knock it all down
Can I graduate?
Echo fading, candle blow
Did you flash out long ago
Cross my fingers, I don't know
Someone poked you down below
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I get my punk-ass off the street?
Can I look in faces that I meet?
I'm not waiting here for you to die
Will this song live on long after we do?
Can I graduate?
Can I look at faces that I meet?
Can I get my punk-ass off the street?
I've been living on for so long
Can I graduate?
To the bastard talking down to me
Your whipping boy calamity
Cross your fingers, I'm going to knock it all down
Can I graduate?
Echo fading, we can't let go
She goes walking by in slow-mo
Sell your heart out for a buck
Go on, fade out before I get stuck
Talking to somebody like you
Do you live the days you go through?
Will this song live on long after we do?
Can I graduate?
Can I look at faces that I meet?
Can I get my punk-ass off the street?
Won't die on the vine
I want to knock it all down
Can I graduate?
Echo fading, candle blow
Did you flash out long ago
Cross my fingers, I don't know
Someone poked you down below
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I graduate?
Can I get my punk-ass off the street?
Can I look in faces that I meet?
I'm not waiting here for you to die
Will this song live on long after we do?
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Corpse I Fell In Love With
Gadjits, The
Gadjits, The
The Spy
Doors, The
Doors, The
Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
OK I DID MY RESEARCH AND HERE'S WHAT I CAME UP WITH:
the songs not really about male prostitution, but its comparing trying to get a record deal as "whoring themselves".
this is what stephan said about graduation in the little pamphlet thingy that comes with the album third eye blind:a collection
"In the mid-90's i was trying to live my life outside institutions. Yet i found myself at institutions called record labels, trying to get a job. So this comes from the experience of whoring yourself out, standing in front of "the man." Asking permission in this song is really ironic, because its really about demanding your place. It came together while we were jamming, and it represents one of those moments when it felt so good to be playing on our own terms."
peace.