McLaughlin was born on September 27, 1982 in Anderson, Indiana. Playing piano since early childhood, he was always finding ways to get out of piano lessons. While attending Highland High School, he shattered both wrists in an accident that interrupted his musical education. Nevertheless, McLaughlin attended Anderson University to study music. He released an independent album entitled Up until Now in 2003. This quickly led to McLaughlin becoming the first artist to sign on with the school's record label, Orangehaus Records. His self-titled album was released in 2004 to local and regional praise. He began touring, travelling throughout the U.S. Midwest, and working up a grassroots following.
He released Indiana in 2007, preceded earlier in the same year by the EP Industry, also known as Jon McL. In 2008, McLaughlin returned with lead single "Beating My Heart" from his album OK Now released in the same year. He gained fame with his cameo appearance in Disney's Enchanted. Released in early September 2011 in the U.S. Forever If Ever was McLaughlin's third major-label release. 2012's lead single "Summer Is Over" featured fellow singer-songwriter-pianist Sara Bareilles from Promising Promises which was a slightly reworked version of his 2011 album. There were no other singles released from the album. Jon released Holding My Breath on his website and iTunes on September 24, 2013. The mp3 version of the album is also available at Amazon.
Four Years
Jon McLaughlin Lyrics
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Put a new wing in the east lot
On my old parking spot
It stands reminding me of how
I wish that I could travel back in time
Change my state of mind
So if you're still in your teens listen to me
It's hard to see beyond these walls
Of who (who) and who not to be
Socially
Maybe you're in you're out
But in the end when all your hats are in the air
Nobody's gonna care
So fair the weight
Freshmen hold on
It's only four years long
Then it's gone
And the queen of the nerds and the king of the prom get a job
Look at them now
She's living her dreams while he sleeps with his crown
So be cool, be hot, be weird
It's just four years
Next time you're walking through your school
Take at who's surrounding you
Or hounding you
Cause it's all just castles in the sand
When your tassel's on the left side of your head
You're never going back
So hope
It's only four years long
Then it's gone
And the king of the nerds and the queen of the prom get a job
What did you know?
He's a CEO and she answers his phone
So be cool, be hot, be weird
It's just four years
And as for your grades I know they're important
Everyone wants to be a wiz
Cause all of it goes on permanent transcripts
I just don't know where mine is
So fair the weight
Freshmen hold on cause every homecoming court moves on
It's only four years long
Then it's gone
And the queen of the nerds and the king of the prom get a job
Look at them now
She's living her dreams while he sleeps with his crown
So be cool, be hot, be weird oh
So be hot, be wild, you're here oh
Be cool, be hot, be weird
It's just four years
The song “Four Years” by Jon McLaughlin talks about how high school only lasts for four years and how it is nothing more than a fleeting moment in life. He laments the fact that the familiar places and people of his high school have vanished, whilst new ones have sprung up in their place. As he sings about the new wing that replaced his old parking spot, he recalls his state of mind at the time and ponders on what he would have done differently.
The chorus of the song teaches that it does not matter how one chooses to live their high school years, as they will not be judged by it in the end. It encourages people, especially those still in their teens, to stop worrying and stressing out over the social hierarchy and pressures that come with high school. The song reassures the listener that life moves on, and what once seemed like an important part of their life will soon become a distant memory.
One of the most striking lines in the song is “It's all just castles in the sand,” which suggests that everything related to high school is temporary and easily swept away, as a castle made of sand. The song highlights how fleeting the high school experience is and how it should not be taken too seriously. McLaughlin encourages his listeners to embrace themselves and be who they want to be, regardless of what people think or say.
Line by Line Meaning
They tore my high school to the ground and
The singer's high school was destroyed
Put a new wing in the east lot
A new wing was constructed in the parking lot
On my old parking spot
The singer's old parking spot is now replaced by the new wing
It stands reminding me of how
The new wing is a reminder for the singer
I wish that I could travel back in time
The singer wishes to go back in time
Change my state of mind
The singer wants to change his/her way of thinking
So if you're still in your teens listen to me
The singer is giving advice to teenagers
It's hard to see beyond these walls
It's difficult to look beyond what's in front of you
Of who (who) and who not to be
It's hard to know who you should be
Socially
Especially in social situations
Maybe you're in you're out
Perhaps you're part of the in-crowd or the out-crowd
But in the end when all your hats are in the air
When everything is up in the air
Nobody's gonna care
No one will care about your high school dramas in the future
So fair the weight
Don't let the weight of high school burden you
Freshmen hold on
Freshmen should hold on
It's only four years long
High school lasts only four years
Then it's gone
After high school, it's all over
And the queen of the nerds and the king of the prom get a job
Prom royalty may not always be what they seem, as they too have to get jobs
Look at them now
Reflecting on the current status of these individuals
She's living her dreams while he sleeps with his crown
She's doing well in her career while he's still holding onto his high school title
So be cool, be hot, be weird
Be whoever you are
Next time you're walking through your school
The next time you're in school
Take at who's surrounding you
Take a look at those who are around you
Or hounding you
Or those who are bothering you
Cause it's all just castles in the sand
High school drama is fleeting
When your tassel's on the left side of your head
When your graduation tassel is on the left side of your cap
You're never going back
You can never go back to high school
So hope
Have hope
And the king of the nerds and the queen of the prom get a job
Reflecting on the future of prom royalty
What did you know?
Did you know?
He's a CEO and she answers his phone
The former king and queen of the prom have completely different careers from what may have been expected
So be cool, be hot, be weird oh
Be unique
So be hot, be wild, you're here oh
Carpe diem
Be cool, be hot, be weird
Be yourself
It's just four years
High school doesn't last long
And as for your grades I know they're important
Grades are important
Everyone wants to be a wiz
Everyone wants to be smart
Cause all of it goes on permanent transcripts
Grades can affect your future
I just don't know where mine is
The singer doesn't know where his/her transcripts are
Freshmen hold on cause every homecoming court moves on
Hold on, nothing is permanent
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind