* Fol… Read Full Bio ↴Kenny Marks is a contemporary Christian artist. His albums are:
* Follow Him (1982)
* Right Where You Are (1984)
* Attitude (1985)
* Make It Right (1987)
* Another Friday Night (1989)
* Fire of Forgiveness (1992)
* Absolutely Positively (1993)
* World Gone Mad (1995)
Life After High School
Kenny Marks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was a football player of the 1st degree.
He was a lousy student, but they let him be.
You should have seen the girls swoon
When he came down the corridor
He couldn't see the future
When they wouldn't be his friends anymore.
10 years later he's just a bore.
We never learned the rule that nothing stays the same.
Is there life after high school with all our values change
Some of us were fooled by the social game.
She was the best looking girl at Central High.
She had boys wrapped ‘round her finger,
She could make them cry.
But all she had was looks, but we didn't know.
We couldn't see the future, when she'd let herself go
She stands in the path where the lights are low.
Repeat He was a science student, he got straight A's.
But to those of us who were KOOL, man he got no grade.
No one even noticed when he came walking into class.
We couldn't see the future
When the rest of us would barely pass.
Now he's in computers; always goes 1st class.
He's a charmer of the ladies; a hero of the 80s.
And the rest of us life has barely passed.
Repeat Repeat
Kenny Marks's song "Life After High School" is a poignant commentary on the reality of life after graduating from high school. The song uses three different characters to explore the challenges and changes that come after high school. The first character mentioned is a football player who was incredibly popular with the girls, but not very good at academics. He was so wrapped up in his popularity that he couldn't see a future where he's not adored. However, as time goes on, this former football star becomes just another boring person. The song raises a question, "Is there life after high school, when things are rearranged? We never learned the rule that nothing stays the same." This line acknowledges that high school is a temporary period marked with intense emotions, intense friendships, and intense rivalries.
The second character mentioned in the song is the best-looking girl in Central High who had all the boys wrapped around her finger. While she was popular, she didn't have much to offer other than her looks. Eventually, beauty fades, and she's left "standing in the path where the lights are low."
The final character is a science student who excelled in academics. Sadly, his intellect didn't earn him any popularity points. The rest of the students saw him as uncool and didn't pay him any attention. Years later, he's successful and living a luxurious life. The song posits that success often comes to those who are not afraid to be themselves, even if it means being uncool.
Overall, the song "Life After High School" paints a vivid picture of the challenges and opportunities that life offers after high school. It suggests that popularity in high school is transient and that true success comes from being confident in who you are, whatever that may be.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a football player of the 1st degree.
He was an accomplished football player in high school.
He was a lousy student, but they let him be.
Despite his poor grades, he was allowed to continue playing football.
You should have seen the girls swoon When he came down the corridor
The girls were attracted to him because of his football prowess.
He couldn't see the future When they wouldn't be his friends anymore.
He was oblivious to the fact that his popularity would not last beyond high school.
10 years later he's just a bore.
A decade later, he is no longer as interesting or popular.
Is there is life after high school, when things are rearranged We never learned the rule that nothing stays the same.
The transition from high school to adulthood is difficult and unpredictable.
Is there life after high school with all our values change Some of us were fooled by the social game.
As we grow older, our priorities and beliefs change, and some of us were misled by the emphasis on popularity in high school.
She was the best looking girl at Central High. She had boys wrapped ‘round her finger, She could make them cry.
She was very attractive and had strong influence over the boys in school.
But all she had was looks, but we didn't know. We couldn't see the future, when she'd let herself go She stands in the path where the lights are low.
Her beauty was fleeting, and now she is not as attractive, standing in the shadows.
He was a science student, he got straight A's. But to those of us who were KOOL, man he got no grade.
He excelled academically, but was not recognized or valued by his peers who prioritized popularity.
No one even noticed when he came walking into class. We couldn't see the future When the rest of us would barely pass.
His intelligence and academic achievements were overlooked by his classmates who did not perceive the importance or relevance of these qualities after high school.
Now he's in computers; always goes 1st class. He's a charmer of the ladies; a hero of the 80s. And the rest of us life has barely passed.
He has found success in the technology industry, has a comfortable lifestyle, and is attractive to women. In contrast, his former classmates have not achieved as much in their lives.
Contributed by Reagan O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.