Third Eye Blind – Graduate

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Can I Graduate,
Can I look into the 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 into the faces that I meet,
Can 1 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 get my punk-ass off the street,
Can I look into the faces that I meet,
I'm not waiting here for you to die,
Will this song live on long after we do.

Send "Graduate" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Track duration: 03:08

"Graduate" as written by Stephan/cadogan Jenkins

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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Graduate song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song i wish they would play this at my graduation this year i would of love that alot because i love this song.
    Flag dp9241loveron July 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:See also: Saturday Night Fever {the movie with John Travolta)
    Flag ThatsInterestingon March 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me the line "Someone poked you down below" was about being molested or raped, and that this person has had a rough life and wants to "graduate." They want to do better for themselves.
    Flag fullmetalfunkon October 06, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I love the line "Do you live the days you go through", I love it in that tragic sort of way because when I look back on a lot of the days I have been through I realize I did not live them. So I think this song also has a little bit of the "carpe diem" seize the day message.
    Flag TalithaCumion August 05, 2009   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:"People don't know -- they think it's about getting out of high school or something. No, 'My punk ass off the street/ Someone poked you down below.' It's basically because being a male prostitute is a metaphor for how we've all felt like when we're doing something that's way below our station in life. I think we've all been like, 'I'm just taking it up the ass here!' And that's what the song is about. 'Come on!/ Can I fucking graduate?' We've all had that feeling of 'You know, this is really beneath me.' Not to knock male prostitutes or anything, it's just a metaphor." - Stephan Jenkins
    Flag mikesgotniceiceon February 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is great. I didn't read the posts but Stephen went through hell growing up because he was dyslexic. His 6th grader teacher said he would never be anything more then in juvi then jail. He went on to graduate validictorian from UC Berkley with a major in... English Lit. After this he went back to his teacher and in so many words told him to go fuck himself. Love it.
    Flag perhapspsychologyon December 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:graduate**
    Flag goodgollymissmollyon May 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment: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.
    Flag goodgollymissmollyon May 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is intense...i love it big time. the words r kinda confusing but uhm it almost sounds like hes a prostitute?? lol i could just b stupid tho...love 2 u.
    Flag goodgollymissmollyon May 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It seems to me there is an undertone of a high school sweetheart in this song. it seems like he wants to get out, and there's no room for her.
    Flag apple_cookieon April 13, 2007   Link

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