In 2001, DeGraw released his first album independently named Gavin Live.
In 2003, his first major studio album was released, entitled Chariot, on July 22nd. He released Chariot Stripped a year later, an album with the same songs, but the instruments brought down to a minimum. The album has so far peaked at #1 in two countries, in Denmark and on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It went to #2 in Norway and #56 on the Billboard 200 and has benn certified Platinum. His first single, I Don't Want To Be, was released on December 14th 2004 and was the theme tune to the hit TV. drama series One Tree Hill. It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #10, the Billboard Pop 100 at #3, #6 in Norway and #38 in the UK, making it his only UK top 40 hit. It has been certified 2x Platinum, selling over 2 million copies. The second single, Chariot, was released on March 1st 2005 and made it to #1 on the Italian Airplay chart. It also did quite well in the US, hitting #30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single was Follow Through and it was released on November 17th 2005. It was used on several TV shows, including Scrubs, and was used on the Carte D'or, an ice cream company. The song peaked at #12 in Norway, #13 in Holland, #38 in Portugal and #52 on the Billboard Hot 100. The final single from the album, Just Friends was released in early 2006 and went to #21 in Holland.
DeGraw's second album, the self-titled Gavin DeGraw, was released on May 6th 2008. It debuted and peaked on the US Billboard 200 at #7, selling 66,000 copies in its first week. It also made #3 in Denmark, #8 in Norway and #13 in Sweden. The first single, We Belong Together, was featured on the soundtrack of the film Tristan & Isolde. It peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, In Love With A Girl, was released on February 12th 2008. It peaked at #5 on the US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks, #22 in Holland, #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #32 in Canada. She Holds A Key was released next, in Mid-2008, and peaked at #29 in Holland. The next single, Cheated On Me, was released in September 2008 and peaked at #77 on the Billboard Pop 100. I Have You To Thank was the final single of the album, being released in early 2009.
His third album, Free, was released less than a year after Gavin DeGraw, on March 31st 2009, and was made in less than two weeks. It entered the Billboard 200 at #19, selling 29,000 copies. The first single, Stay, was released on March 11th 2009, through the internet.
His fourth album Sweeter was released on September 20th, 2011 and spawned lead single Not Over You which peaked at #18 on the Hot 100 and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. Second singlek Sweeter reached #18 on Billboard's Adult Pop Songs chart. The final single from the album was Soldier.
Gavin released a live album on December 4th, 2012 entitled "Sweeter Live" singing some tracks from Sweeter and earlier favorites.
His current single Best I Ever Had is a song from upcoming fifth studio album Make A Move to be released on October 15th, 2013 in the US. The song has so far peaked at 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.
Medicate the Kids
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Substances make you dumb"
Then you say, "Give 'em some"
Are you the victim
Of this experience
Child experiment
Teacher's predicament?
You're in the system
And if you don't walk the line
You can walk the plank
You older brother (government)
Wants to control your mind
You're more useful blank
[Chorus]
Medicate the kids
Feathers turn to quills
Pump 'em full of training fluids
Powders and pills
There's nothing you can't flush out
And nothing you can't kill
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
I'm gonna tell you,
"No way,
This ain't fair play,
Just don't medicate me"
Tell 'em, "Say no to drugs"
"Substances make you dumb"
Unless you get 'em from
Someone who loves you
One who knows best for you
Paid for those tests for you
Knows how to get you through
When it's above you
And you can't get on top
Cause it's high to climb,
You hear them saying,
"Don't make me call the cops"
Every other time
[Chorus]
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
I'm gonna tell you,
"No way,
This ain't fair play,
Just don't medicate me"
And there's a long line
Flowing from prescription aisles
Filed through legal means
So we can alter the child
For his protection
Tie him to extension cords,
This is the age of discipline
[Repeat x4]
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
Gavin DeGraw's song "Medicate the Kids" contains powerful lyrics that express the sentiment that the government and educational system are too eager to medicate children instead of addressing and helping to solve their underlying problems. The song seems to argue that this cycle of medication and control is detrimental to the healthy development of young people. The singer of the song appears to be cautioning against blindly medicating children and encouraging people to consider alternative solutions.
The opening lines of the song are layered with irony. The singer begins by telling people to say no to drugs and that substances make you dumb. However, the singer then turns around and advises, "give 'em some," creating a contrast between the cautionary tone of the lyrics and the singer's apparent desire to medicate children. The words "child experiment" and "teacher's predicament" suggest that the singer views children as unwitting participants in a system that is more concerned with control than their wellbeing.
The song paints a vivid picture of a system that is willing to medicate children without considering the long-term effects. The line "feathers turn to quills" suggests that children are being transformed into something hard and inflexible. Additionally, phrases like "pump 'em full of training fluids" and "powders and pills" underscore the sense that children are being medicated for social and academic conformity, not personal health. Overall, the song seems to be a cautionary tale about what can happen when children are subjected to a system that values control over compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell 'em, "Say no to drugs"
Encourage children to abstain from drugs.
"Substances make you dumb"
Drugs have a negative impact on cognitive function.
Then you say, "Give 'em some"
Contradicts what was said in the previous line by suggesting giving drugs to children.
Are you the victim
Asks if the listener is being manipulated.
Of this experience
Refers to the process of being prescribed drugs.
Child experiment
Children are being used as guinea pigs.
Teacher's predicament?
Teachers are under pressure to prescribe medication to their students.
You're in the system
You're part of a process designed to get you to take medication.
And if you don't walk the line
If you don't comply with expectations.
You can walk the plank
Metaphor for severe consequences.
You older brother (government)
The government is acting like a controlling, older sibling.
Wants to control your mind
The government wants to dictate your behavior.
You're more useful blank
You're easier to control if you're not thinking for yourself.
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song.
Medicate the kids
Administer drugs to children.
Feathers turn to quills
Suggests a change from soft to harsh.
Pump 'em full of training fluids
Metaphor for injecting drugs.
Powders and pills
Different forms of drugs being prescribed.
There's nothing you can't flush out
Implies that the drugs are harmful and need to be removed from the system.
And nothing you can't kill
Metaphor for the potency of the drugs.
Why don't you just back off of us
Asks the government to stop trying to control people.
Before we go crazy?
Written from the perspective of someone who is being affected by the medication.
I'm gonna tell you,
Refers to what the singer is about to say.
"No way,
Refusal to comply with expectations.
This ain't fair play,
Suggests that the people being medicated are being treated unjustly.
Just don't medicate me"
Demand to be left alone and not given medication.
Unless you get 'em from
Exceptions to the idea that drugs are harmful.
Someone who loves you
Implying that medical professionals have the patients' best interests at heart.
One who knows best for you
The professionals have the knowledge to make informed decisions about what medication to prescribe.
Paid for those tests for you
The money spent on research and development adds credibility to the medication.
Knows how to get you through
Medical professionals are trained to help patients with their health issues.
When it's above you
When the problem is out of your control.
And you can't get on top
Feeling helpless.
Cause it's high to climb,
Metaphor for a lofty goal that is difficult to achieve.
You hear them saying,
Refers to the pressure to take medication.
"Don't make me call the cops"
Implies that there will be repercussions if you don't comply.
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song.
And there's a long line
The waiting line for prescription medication.
Flowing from prescription aisles
Visual description of the line of people waiting for medication.
Filed through legal means
The medication has been approved by the government.
So we can alter the child
The medication is designed to change the behavior of the child.
For his protection
Justification for prescribing medication to children.
Tie him to extension cords,
Metaphor for being restrained by medication.
This is the age of discipline
Suggests that medication is a form of discipline.
Why don't you just back off of us
Asks the government to stop trying to control people.
Before we go crazy?
Written from the perspective of someone who is being affected by the medication.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GAVIN DEGRAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind