Thrice – Under Par

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You set bar too high
Your expectations have become my failure
A shell you see so shallow but deep inside
My heart beats just the same as yours
The same blood through these clean veins

Can't you see that I'm in pain
It seems my life is always under par
What can I say to change your mind about what I am
Others can see what was hidden from your sight
A kid with courage and heart and his eyes open wide
An inner beauty and a bright light
My focus is not yours

I set my sights on new horizons and let my soul have scope
Can't you see that I have my own dreams
And though they're not the same as yours
They hold value to me, tell me why can't you see
I'm not the means to mend your past regrets
What can I say to change your mind about what I am
Others can see what was hidden from your sight
A kid with courage and heart and his eyes open wide

Inner beauty and a bright light
Judged for how I look, not for the good that I have done
I try the best I can, but it seems that I'm not the perfect son
Shaped by God, and my volition
And the seeds that you have sown
But I ask you once again
When does my life become my own?

Send "Under Par" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by helixbiker

Track duration: 04:47

"Under Par" as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge, James Riley Breckenridge, Dustin Michael Kensrue, Teppei Teranishi

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Under Par song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:this song is obviously about his parents and how they tried to mould him into the 'perfect son' and dustin wanted to live his own life and have his own dreams.
    Flag xTEMPESTxon February 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Why is it that I can't look at any Thrice lyrics on this website without seeing people arguing about whether or not it is a Christian song?
    Flag UltraBlue412on June 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This has nothing to do with Christianity. I don't know what you're talking about.

    It's about, no matter how hard you try, someone always thinks you're not good enough-- they can't see the good things, the bright things in those they constantly criticize.
    Particularly in this song, it can be related at parts to family, as in "I try the best I can, but it seems that I'm not the perfect son."

    It's also asking when will other people let you go and just let you be who you are, without all those "should-be"s. "but I ask you once again, when does my life become my own?"
    Flag pullingthestringson April 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:He yells "It's my life" at the start of the song.
    Flag AjFazz85on April 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Give it up, it's not that hard to interpret. Obviously when he says "I try the best I can, but it seems that I'm not the perfect son" he's referring to his father. And another thing, Dustin is Christian, get over it. He's not preaching, it's just his life and his beliefs and anyone who tries to claim he doesn't sing about religion needs to learn to read. The rest of the band isn't Christian, but Dustin just happens to write the lyrics and usually you write about what you feel. There, after three years of anger about Thrice fans not understanding, I let it out. Good day.
    Flag nolies,justloveon November 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i agree with you sharperstronger. however, its not only about parents. its about peers as well. how our friends, family, and even aquantinces expect to make decisions they like, and they are comfortable with. effin hypocrites
    Flag eternalmorningsunon October 25, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is the anthem for kids whose parents want something for themselves to brag about rather than whats good for the child. "you set the bar too high" explains it all. and its about how the child is trying to hard to break away from them "when does my life become my own." and how its not because of bad influences because he was shaped by his parents and yes his religion, but by no means is this a religion based song. ive been a fan of thrice since they toured here to vegas and they opened for my friends band 7 foot midget, ive talked many times with dustin and eddie, even hung out with them a few times. and from what info ive gathered of them, they are the most down to earth, music-based band out there. not in it for the scene, not in it for the money, not in it to bitch, but because they love the music, and they wanna sing their emotions. in conclusion
    Thrice rox my sox all around the friggin block. but dont confuse them for preachers.
    Flag sharperstrongeron March 22, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:why do you idiots have to keep argueing whether or not Thrice is a Christian band. It's pitiful.
    Flag Grayon March 19, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song's gotta be about his father's high expectations. song is definitely kick ass, i can't think of another song that gets me as pumped.
    Flag tommanon March 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:simply because the word 'god' is incorporated into the lyrics once, it does no make the song religious. the mentionings of not meeting expectations doesn't necessarily connect the song with one's relationship with their parents, either. it could be about being viewed as an under-achiever through any perspective. songs usually are written to have some substance, but are left vague enough so to be able to affect more than just a select group of people. if it has some religious meaning to an individual, so be it, but arguing about the message is fucking stupid. for me, it's a good song when i'm lectured on how i'm never going to amount to anything- and not just my parents tell me this. it's kind of like a 'you're not the boss of me' type; an exressive rally for independence and all that good stuff.

    oh. and he says 'it's my life'.
    Flag dashing_terroron September 01, 2002   Link

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