2nd Period: Shoot Down The Stars
Gym Class Heroes Lyrics

Eighty-one was the year shit hit the fan in a major way
In 1981, things took a serious turn for the worse.

Almost twenty years after the fact I'm still on my hustle
Even after almost twenty years, I'm still working hard to achieve my goals.

Diggin' graves for an inspiring artist
Doing the hard work necessary to make a successful artist's career possible.

Shit on since the first show
Facing criticism and rejection from the beginning of the journey.

But we turned feces to fertilizer
Turning something negative into something positive and useful.

So when you diss, it's just food for the flowers to grow
When people criticize us, we use it to fuel our growth and success.

Sold fifteen plus out of backpacks, no trunks
Selling a significant number of records out of backpacks, without any fancy sales techniques.

Too young to drive
Being too young to legally operate a car.

But live hip hop
Being fully immersed in the hip hop lifestyle and culture.

And the kids are upstate kids that thought rap was past tense, hence the last name
Coming from a rural area where people thought that rap music was outdated or no longer relevant.

Got name for playing basements and such and making songs that our friends loved
Earning a reputation for playing in small, intimate settings and making music that resonated with our close friends.

And when the fish bowl got too small to hold the goldfish
When our success began to outgrow our previous limitations and expectations.

We filled our gills with water and ripped that mother fucker like...
We adapted to our new environment and thrived, succeeding beyond anyone's expectations.

This is what you wanted, right?
A rhetorical question meant to ask if this is what the listener expected from their own ambitions and goals.

How many nights were spent pouring out your guts, dummy?
How much effort and emotional energy have you put into your work and aspirations?

How many punishments endured for fucking up in school?
How many times have you faced negative consequences or setbacks in your pursuit of success?

How many teachers proved wrong by writing songs instead?
By choosing a different path, how many doubters and naysayers have been proved wrong?

Just do your thing, man
Focus on yourself and keep pushing towards your goals.

We break ourselves down and build ourselves up in disappointment
When we fail to reach our goals, we use that as motivation to improve and achieve more.

How fragile we are, so fragile we are; we just don't show it
People are more vulnerable and susceptible to pain and disappointment than they often let on.

We shake up this town and shoot down the stars for our enjoyment
We use our success to challenge and overcome expectations, and to have fun and enjoy life.

So sexy we are, so sexy we are; we just don't know it
Despite our flaws and imperfections, we are confident and attractive in our own unique ways.

And in your dream it's time to do the best you can now
When you have the chance to pursue your dreams, it's important to give it your all.