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Parents teachers little brothers and
Sisters in the
Bleachers the fool who stole my sneakers
Thanks for allowing me to
See at today's graduation
Even if they won't let us wear sunglasses

What will we do when we have our own kids?
Give them twelve year bids just after
The bars come off the cribs?
Work within the system? Make them
Listen to the darkest lecture
In the architecture of a prison
Full of purity-scarred security guards?
It’s sure to be hard recess!
Rush hurriedly to the yard

Back-to-school nights are visitation rights
And boredom is
The warden they’d be less ignored
In private schools but can you afford
Them? And even then they’re fair
To middling they fiddled
With inmates’ diddles
And now they’ve got the Ritalin
ADD: Another Dumb Doctor’s
Complicity i’m about
To Sub stitute teach? No, tRACT
So when the states fail and
They can’t make bail, we’ll hold a jailbreak
Fake bake sale slow on the uptake?
Well, below in this cupcake
There’s a file a mile wide with
(St assisi’s SATs and) a reviled style guide

Current Events comparison
Contrast cause and Effect
Embarrassing bombast

Five Paragraphs each get a topic sentence or
"hook" for pop ascendance so much plop
Of course people stop attendance this
Court loves to drop defendants
Allow me to leave an
Illusion dispelled 98% of
The graduates matriculate 'cause the other
Poor suckers not here
Got expelled and ultimately they'll
Go to jail

We could rehabeducate with art but we ain’t
Got paints you can take your
Budgetary constraints and fudge it up your
Hairy taints that means you
Principal Asswipe you were worse
For class than sass or grass in a glass pipe

This isn’t hyperbole it’s reality verbally

And we don’t want weekends
We need every day between
If you might die when you’re twenty
Then you’re old when you’re fifteen

I know! I’ll reopen the Black Mountain School
And bring back to us the
Abacus as a counting tool

Y’all know what time it is this is my Bauhaus
We run around when it’s nice




Out and nobody kowtows

Happy Graduation Everybody! Ya hoo!
Line by Line Meaning

Parents teachers little brothers and
Acknowledging the presence of different people in the audience and possibly thanking them for their attendance.


Sisters in the
Continuation of the first line


Bleachers the fool who stole my sneakers
Referencing a previous event where someone stole the artist's sneakers from the bleachers.


Thanks for allowing me to
Gratitude for being able to attend this event.


See at today's graduation
Acknowledgment of the occasion and being present at the graduation ceremony.


Even if they won't let us wear sunglasses
Recognizing the rules and limitations that are in place at the graduation ceremony.


What will we do when we have our own kids?
Questioning what the future holds when the artist has children of their own.


Give them twelve year bids just after
Possibly expressing a fear of raising children the wrong way and having them end up in jail.


The bars come off the cribs?
The concern that no matter how much one plans, their children's future is uncertain.


Work within the system? Make them
Debating on what approach to take when raising children in a world where the system has its flaws.


Listen to the darkest lecture
Influencing children with harsh truths and realities.


In the architecture of a prison
Metaphorical reference to how society operates and how education can be restrictive.


Full of purity-scarred security guards?
Questioning the intentions of those who are seen as protectors of society.


It’s sure to be hard recess!
Reflecting on how difficult it may be for children to enjoy life and have authentic experiences within the limitations of education.


Rush hurriedly to the yard
The anticipation of going outside for recess and the excitement that comes with it.


Back-to-school nights are visitation rights
Viewing school events as an opportunity for parents to get a glimpse into their children's academic experience.


And boredom is
Highlighting the negative experience of being uninterested or uninspired by school.


The warden they’d be less ignored
Drawing a comparison between school administration and prison warden, highlighting the authoritarian role they play in students' lives.


In private schools but can you afford
Reference to the higher cost of private education that may not be accessible to everyone.


Them? And even then they’re fair
Highlighting that even private schools have their own shortcomings and limitations.


To middling they fiddled
Suggesting that even in elite academic institutions, there is laziness and incompetence amongst staff.


With inmates’ diddles
Reference to sexual misconduct and how this is an issue that can occur anywhere, including in schools.


And now they’ve got the Ritalin
Commenting on the over-prescription of medication to students as a solution to behavioral issues.


ADD: Another Dumb Doctor’s
The artist's view that doctors and medical professionals are contributing to the over-prescription of medication in schools.


Complicity i’m about
Acknowledging the role that the artist plays in this issue as a teacher.


To Sub stitute teach? No, tRACT
Unable to be a substitute teacher at the moment. This could be due to disillusionment with the education system or other personal reasons.


So when the states fail and
Speculating about what would happen if the government and the education system failed to do their jobs properly.


They can’t make bail, we’ll hold a jailbreak
Proposing a way to subvert a system that is failing students.


Fake bake sale slow on the uptake?
Using humor to comment on how difficult it is to change things within a large, bureaucratic system.


Well, below in this cupcake
Suggesting that something significant can come from something unassuming, like a cupcake.


There’s a file a mile wide with
Indicating that there is a lot of work to be done to fix the education system.


(St assisi’s SATs and) a reviled style guide
Humorously referring to particular aspects of academia as important parts of the file.


Current Events comparison
Referencing the importance of understanding and analyzing current events.


Contrast cause and Effect
Encouraging critical thinking and analysis of what is happening in society.


Embarrassing bombast
A possible comment on how politicians or public figures handle situations.


Five Paragraphs each get a topic sentence or
Referencing the structure of an essay and how it is taught in schools.


"hook" for pop ascendance so much plop
Possibly commenting on the quality of pop music.


Of course people stop attendance this
Commenting on how pop culture may be superficial and not hold the attention of people for long periods of time.


Court loves to drop defendants
Reflecting on the criminal justice system and how it often prosecutes people unfairly.


Allow me to leave an
Asking for permission to share a revelation or insight.


Illusion dispelled 98% of
Revealing a harsh truth about people's beliefs or understanding of a particular topic.


The graduates matriculate 'cause the other
Highlighting the importance of graduation and the reality that not all students may have the opportunity to experience it.


Poor suckers not here
Expressing empathy for those who do not get to experience graduation.


Got expelled and ultimately they'll
Acknowledging that some students end up getting expelled which could lead to negative consequences for them later in life.


Go to jail
Recognizing that expulsion and other setbacks could lead to students ending up in jail.


We could rehabeducate with art but we ain’t
Highlighting the potential for art to help with the rehabilitation and education of individuals who have struggled with the traditional education system.


Got paints you can take your
Recognizing that art education can be limited due to a lack of resources and funding.


Budgetary constraints and fudge it up your
Commenting on how limited resources and lack of funding can negatively impact education.


Hairy taints that means you
A humorous way of saying that the people in charge may not be doing a good job.


Principal Asswipe you were worse
Referencing a hypothetical principal and how they are not doing a good job.


For class than sass or grass in a glass pipe
Humorous comparison between a principal's competence and using drugs.


This isn’t hyperbole it’s reality verbally
A statement about how the issues being discussed are not exaggerated or hypothetical, but a real problem.


And we don’t want weekends
Reflecting on how everyday life is often more important than leisure time.


We need every day between
The importance of taking advantage of each day.


If you might die when you’re twenty
A reminder of mortality and the shortness of life.


Then you’re old when you’re fifteen
Commenting on how people can feel older than they actually are due to life experiences and struggles.


I know! I’ll reopen the Black Mountain School
Proposing a solution to the problems with contemporary education.


And bring back to us the
Describing what the artist would like to see from a new education model.


Abacus as a counting tool
Referencing a traditional tool that was used in education.


Y’all know what time it is this is my Bauhaus
Possible reference to an art or design school and how the artist wants to make a change.


We run around when it’s nice
Emphasizing the impact that good weather can have on people's moods and mental health.


Out and nobody kowtows
A sentiment that suggests everyone is equal and there is no need for one person to be subservient to another.


Happy Graduation Everybody! Ya hoo!
Celebrating the occasion of graduation and wishing everyone well.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL DUMILE, OMAR J GILYARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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