High School
Kelsea Ballerini Lyrics
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And he's still wearing that red and black jersey
Waiting for the band to start up
He's still showing up twenty late, finding hearts and rules to break
Why would he wanna change when every memory still bows to him?
But this ain't high school
Where all you care about is if the pretty cheerleader thinks you're cool
'Cause it's five years later and you can't get off of the elevator
That's going up, 'cause you're growing up
And the world gets cruel when you're still living in high school
He's still calling that first love, first time, pretty-eyed blonde
And she's still letting it ring 'cause his ring isn't what she wants
'Cause she traded in prom queen for a big city dream
And a slate that's clean, but
Your heart just don't get it and that's why you can't forget it
'Cause you're living like you're seventeen
But this ain't high school
Where all you care about is if the pretty cheerleader thinks you're cool
See her Friday, take her out after the football game
'Cause it's five years later and you can't get off of the elevator
That's going up, 'cause you're growing up and the world gets cruel when
You're still living in the hallways
Where everybody stopped and stared
And cared and knew your name
'Cause this is the real world that don't know you like that
You can remember but you can't go back
To high school
Where all you care about is if the pretty cheerleader thinks you're cool
See her Friday when you take her out after the football game
'Cause it's five years later and you can't get off of the elevator
That's going up, 'cause you're growing up
And the world gets cruel when you're still living in high school
When you're still living in it
Five years later
Oh yeah, oh yeah
He's still calling that first love, first time
And he hates he said goodbye, she went on with her life
He's still driving the same old back roads
Wondering when he got so old
Where did his life go?
Oh, but he knows
Oh, he knows
Yeah, he knows
That this ain't high school, oh, woah
And he's still driving that 1970 hand-me-down truck
And he's stuck in high school
But this ain't high school
The song "High School" by Kelsea Ballerini is a reflection on the experience of growing up and leaving behind the high school years. The song describes a character, who is still living in the past, refusing to change and grow up despite the years that have passed. He still wears the same jersey, drives the same truck, and holds onto the memories of his first love from high school. The lyrics emphasize the fact that, in contrast to high school, the real world is not interested in such things. The world is cruel, and anyone who refuses to move on from the past will get left behind.
In the first verse, the singer highlights that the character is still stuck in the past of high school, holding onto memories and refusing to move on. The character is still doing the same things he did in high school; he is late, finding rules to break, and still expecting everyone to worship him. However, the singer reminds the character and the listener that this is no longer high school. Life has moved on, and it's time for the character to grow up.
In the second verse, the singer continues to highlight that the character is still thinking about his first love from high school. She, however, has moved on and left her past behind. She is now living her big city dream and has no interest in going back to high school. The singer reminds the listener that no one can go back to high school, and that is not the way the real world works. The real world moves on, and those who cannot move on with it will get left behind.
Overall, "High School" is a touching and insightful song about the experience of leaving high school and moving on with life. The singer reminds the listener that growing up and moving on is a crucial part of life and that those who refuse to do so will struggle to fit in into the real world.
Line by Line Meaning
He's still driving that 1970 hand-me-down truck
He hasn't changed much since high school and clings to the past
And he's still wearing that red and black jersey
He still dresses the same as he did in high school
Waiting for the band to start up
He's still living in the moment and not looking to the future
He's still showing up twenty late, finding hearts and rules to break
He's still living recklessly and trying to be the cool guy
Why would he wanna change when every memory still bows to him?
He's holding onto his high school days because they were the best times of his life
But this ain't high school
The real world is different from high school and he needs to realize that
Where all you care about is if the pretty cheerleader thinks you're cool
In high school, popularity was everything
See her Friday, take her out after the football game
The most important thing was dating the popular girls and going to events
'Cause it's five years later and you can't get off of the elevator
Time moves on and you can't go back to your high school days
That's going up, 'cause you're growing up
As you get older, you have to mature and move on from your past
And the world gets cruel when you're still living in high school
You can't keep living in the past because the world is cruel and unforgiving
He's still calling that first love, first time, pretty-eyed blonde
He's still holding onto his first love and hasn't let go
And she's still letting it ring 'cause his ring isn't what she wants
She's moved on and doesn't want to be with him anymore
'Cause she traded in prom queen for a big city dream
She's moved on to bigger and better things in life
And a slate that's clean, but
She's started a new life and doesn't want to go back in time
Your heart just don't get it and that's why you can't forget it
He can't forget her because his heart is still stuck in the past
'Cause you're living like you're seventeen
He's still holding onto his high school self and hasn't matured
Where everybody stopped and stared
In high school, everyone knew each other and cared about their lives
And cared and knew your name
The high school environment was a small and tight-knit community
'Cause this is the real world that don't know you like that
In the real world, nobody cares about your past and who you were in high school
You can remember but you can't go back
You can cherish your memories but you can't live in the past
When you're still living in it
If you keep living in the past, you'll never move on
Oh, he knows
He understands that he needs to move on from his high school days
That this ain't high school, oh, woah
The real world is different and he needs to accept it
And he's stuck in high school
He's clinging to his high school memories and hasn't moved on
Lyrics © Black River Entertainment LLC
Written by: Kelsea Ballerini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
S
[Verse 1]
He's still driving that 1970 hand-me-down truck
And he's still wearing that red and black jersey
Waiting for the band to start up
He's still showing up twenty late, finding hearts and rules to break
Why would he wanna change when every memory still bows to him?
[Chorus]
But this ain't high school
Where all you care about is if the pretty cheerleader thinks you're cool
See her Friday, take her out after the football game
'Cause it's five years later and you can't get off of the elevator
That's going up, 'cause you're growing up
And the world gets cruel when you're still living in high school
[Verse 2]
He's still calling that first love, first time, pretty-eyed blonde
And she's still letting it ring 'cause his ring isn't what she wants
'Cause she traded in prom queen for a big city dream
And a slate that's clean, but
Your heart just don't get it and that's why you can't forget it
'Cause you're living like you're seventeen
[Chorus]
But this ain't high school
Where all you care about is if the pretty cheerleader thinks you're cool
See her Friday, take her out after the football game
'Cause it's five years later and you can't get off of the elevator
That's going up, 'cause you're growing up and the world gets cruel when...
[Bridge]
You're still living in the hallways
Where everybody stopped and stared
And cared and knew your name
Cause this is the real world that don't know you like that
You can remember but you can't go back
[Chorus]
To high school
Where all you care about is if the pretty cheerleader thinks you're cool
See her Friday when you take her out after the football game
'Cause it's five years later and you can't get off of the elevator
That's going up, 'cause you're growing up
And the world gets cruel when you're still living in high school
[Post-Chorus]
When you're still living in...
Five years later
Oh yeah, oh yeah
He's still calling that first love, first time
And he hates he said goodbye, she went on with her life
He's still driving the same old back roads
Wondering when he got so old
Where did his life go?
Oh, but he knows
Oh, he knows
Yeah, he knows
That this ain't high school, oh, woah
And he's still driving that 1970 hand-me-down truck
And he's stuck in high school
But this ain't high school
Madi Prince
You guys she is NOT the next Taylor Swift. She is the one and only Kelsea Ballerini. She got to where she is because she is her own talented woman. Remember that. ;)
DT&I an LSRC Railroad
Taylor swift is a horrible live singer.
destiny doing random things 2
Yes she is
Kareyonna Davidson
@Albert Alfaro lol
Delaney Nason
Madi Prince so true
Renee Reedy
You are so right
Rachel
This song reminds me of the boys in highschool who used to bully me and other kids in our class. Seeing them 5 years later, they're still the same. I hope one day they realize we're not in highschool anymore and the world doesn't revolve around them. This song just gives me comfort and makes me feel better that we're out in the real world and I don't have to see them everyday anymore.
Rachel
@Iceman 85 Aww, hugs to you too! :)
Iceman 85
@Rachel Thank you for writing back, you made me happy. I am very glad that you are all right now. Thank you again and send you hugs. :)
Rachel
@Iceman 85 Hi Szymon! Yes, I'm definitely okay now. Thank you. Have a wonderful day. :)