High Schoolin'
OutKast Lyrics

Yeah yeah uh
The artist is agreeing and acknowledging what's about to follow in the song.

Been always told to keep my head up
Even as a kid, the artist was frequently given the advice to stay strong.

But three shakes just don't cut the cake when your necktie from bobbing
Being optimistic doesn't always work or make everything better, even when you keep trying.

Life's a stage, street's the cage,
The world can feel like an oppressive cage compared to the freedom one feels on stage.

We dungeon rats Outkast and Goodie Mobbin
The artists see themselves as being trapped in a world not dissimilar to that of rats held underground in a dungeon.

Enough of the petite talk, I'd rather have a nigga with a perm
The artist is expressing a preference for practicality over style or trendiness.

Ain't got to have punk, on my side than a nigga who frontin
The artist would rather have someone real on their side than a pretender or faker.

To another nigga's interpretation of god-stuntin
The artist doesn't trust other people's showboating or the ostentatious display of religious piety.

(?) Why both a president'll be a swat guy
The artist is questioning why there seems to be a trend toward having police or military officers as presidents.

That's like choosing which bullet you gon' get shot by
The artist is pointing out the futility of distinguishing between the lesser of two evils in an impossible situation.

A drank and some hot fries
The artist is describing his current state, which is that of consuming junk food and alcohol.

Slowly eating me up from inside to outside
The artist is hinting at the negative effects of his indulgence on his body and psyche.

Well you gon' die anyway, right? Wrong
The artist is rejecting the fatalistic notion that we're all just going to die anyway, and instead chooses to pursue a life full of purpose and meaning.

I plan to live forever, I know it seems mighty long
The artist is expressing a desire to do something lasting or meaningful with his life, as opposed to just living day by day.

If you think about it in Earth terms
The artist is suggesting a shift in perspective when thinking about one's legacy or impact on the world.

Thank god we on the TV what we let like earthworms
The artist is playing with the irony that they're on TV, which is just a smaller screen version of the world we're in, rendering them as figurative earthworms.

Stay underground like (?) or Dig Dug
The artist is expressing a desire to remain hidden or below the surface, like a mole or a video game character.

Only come above to shake hands and give hugs
The artist is noting that they don't come out often, but when they do, they're cordial and dole out affection.

Lay your beautiful body down on this fur rug
The artist is being seductive and offering a luxurious enticement.

You got to give a damn if you do not give a fuck, ha!
The artist recognizes that while they're edgy and unconventional, it's still important to care about something or someone.

Rack 'em up 'cuz we bustin'
The artist is hyping themselves up, telling the listeners to get ready for a wild ride.

Once was the nigga in the back of the class who never said nothing
The artist is describing a past version of himself as someone who was quiet and unassuming, hiding in the shadows.

His thought became an amplifier
The artist is describing how someone who's overlooked can eventually have a big impact if they're amplified.

I live for inspiration, for without that, I will die (go!)
The artist explains that without inspiration, they could not survive.

Here the bomb jam now can you dig it?
The artist is asking the audience if they can comprehend how explosive the music is.

Don't stop and uh don't quit cuz uh
The artist is urging listeners to keep going and not give up even when things get tough.

We own that high school shit and uh
The artist is referencing the times they had in high school, now owning it as their own experience.

You know that uh we spit it
The artist is flexing their lyrical abilities.

Got issues on my mind like a fool from Columbine
The artist has a lot of heavy thoughts on their mind, similar to the killer from the school shooting in Columbine.

Will I swallow my pride or take that ride?
The artist is weighing the pros and cons of different choices.

Better think before my cock gets slide and take a dive
The artist must be careful before making a decision he regrets.

Into this hot pit like ball of grease
The artist compares where they're headed to a hot and uncomfortable place, such as a sewer.

Stand alone on my own ten toes against foes
The artist will stand up for himself and confront his enemies if necessary, relying only on himself.

It's a snowstorm and you outside gettin' cold
The artist is describing a cold reality as opposed to a warm and inviting one.

Luck has struck one buck for seven every roll
The artist is referencing gambling and how the odds are often against you.

Throwin' snake eyes thinkin' a nigga gon' fold
The artist will not give up or break, even when the odds seem against them.

Stand down like four black vogues on goes
The artist is describing a scene in which they confront their rivals, poised and ready to attack.

Snatchin' all the dough and leavin' y'all broke
The artist will overpower their enemies and leave them empty-handed.

Going all out for an A plus in class
The artist is describing a desire to excel academically.

I bust ass walkin' barefoot over broken glass
The artist will persevere through difficult circumstances in order to achieve their goals.

Now who gon' pass player? You won't last
The artist is bragging about how they're going further than anyone, and trying to intimidate their rivals.

See we all in the race just taking up space
The artist thinks everyone is competing for no good reason, and wonders why we don't do more with our time.

If we's on the other side of the track grab the straps
The artist suggests that if his detractors were in his shoes, they would act the same way.

Thought y'all knew wild off runnin' past
The artist is arrogant and believes he's moving faster and more efficiently than anyone else.

So who you think you foolin? We can get to dueling
The artist is calling out anyone who's mistaken and daring them to face him.

On some old school shit, like we high schoolin'
The artist is describing an old-fashioned way of communicating, like kids used to do in high school.

Get him!
Someone is chasing after a target.

(Don't run! Don't run!)
Someone is yelling for someone else to stop running away.

Yeah, sucker! What'cha gon' do now? What'cha gon' do now sucker?
The artist is taunting or trash talking someone who's failed in their actions.

Let me walk you little kiddies through my school days
The artist is instructing the listener how to see their high school experience through his own eyes.

Sunday night I hit a party, missed a Monday, I'll go Tuesday
The artist is describing a more casual or relaxed attitude in high school, with different priorities and expectations.

Doomsday, homeroom was lookin' beauty
The artist is describing how homeroom felt like it was on the brink of disaster, even though it was just the beginning of a new day.

The girl I wanna cut is absent but I see a cutie
The artist is pining after a girl he likes who's not there, instead finding someone else he's attracted to.

But bump a flirt, I need to be doin' this homework to graduate
The artist recognizes that academics are more important than getting involved with someone new.

Saturate my body and memory on some algebrate
The artist compares studying to saturating oneself with the subject.

Bro, why you holdin' and totin' that's to assassinate
The artist is questioning the motives of someone holding onto a weapon, implying they're up to something violent.

Go masturbate you jack-off, nigga take the hat off
The artist is criticizing someone for being selfish and unintelligent, shown through the crude insult.

I'm a third year freshman, I started with the best of them
The artist is commenting on his lack of academic success, having been in high school for longer than most students.

But now them niggas done passed me, I'm just a baby daddy
The artist has fallen behind his classmates and become a father, which may prevent him from progressing further.

O.G. Original Goofball, and I used to slang the hard heart
The artist is describing his past as a drug dealer, showcasing how he's changed.

And smoke the soft softball saw through the way-hall
The artist is describing how he would smoke weed throughout the school and not get caught.

Niggas up in the school, they know my name, look!
The artist is known around the school as a troublemaker or drug user.

But that's because my face is in like eight different yearbooks
The artist is being recognized based on his image being memorialized in yearbooks from each year of high school he's attended.

Could've been took the S.A.T. but the streets got the best of me
The artist recognizes that he could've taken his education more seriously and continued to higher education, but instead, chose a life of crime.

Thinkin' and drinkin' and bankin' open while like sesame
The artist is suggesting that he made bad decisions in the past as he was too carefree and was under the influence of drinking or drugs.

All tellin' me to chill out (chill out!)
The artist's friends and allies are advising him to calm down or take things more seriously in order to create a better future for himself.

Before you be a drop out (chill out!)
The artist's friend suggests that if he doesn't calm down or change his ways, he'll drop out of school.

Or cop out, is when you're thirty-something at your mom's house, yeah
The artist is describing two possible outcomes for him if he doesn't take school seriously: dropping out or still living with his mom years later.