… Read Full Bio ↴The Graduate was an American indie/emo band from Springfield, Illinois.
The Graduate formed in central Illinois in November 2005, after the breakup of two other local bands (Best of Winter from Quincy, Illinois and Jack from Springfield, Illinois) whose members began playing shows together. Lead singer Corey Warning said of the band's name, "None of us graduated from college. Well, we all graduated from high school, but none of us from college, so the name's kind of ironic." The band independently released an EP entitled Horror Show in April 2006, and toured nationally with bands such as Jack's Mannequin, The Audition, The Junior Varsity, Punchline, Waking Ashland, and Secondhand Serenade.
In late 2006, College Music Journal featured The Graduate on the cover of the CMJ New Music Report for being the most added band to college radio stations during the week of December 3, 2006. 167 stations added their EP, Horror Show to their airplay lineup in total. On April 6, 2007, Spin named The Graduate its Band of the Day.
The Graduate released their debut full length album, Anhedonia on April 10, 2007. The band played a number of Warped Tour shows in the summer of 2007 to promote their new album as well as supporting acts such as The Audition and Spitalfield on two separate U.S. tours. They also played at Lollapalooza that year. The band then went on a short European/UK headlining tour which included playing the German music festival, Rock am See.
On November 27, 2007, The Graduate released The Evergreen EP as an early Christmas gift for fans. The EP includes acoustic versions of "Anhedonia" and "The City That Reads" from Anhedonia as well as a cover of "Blue Christmas" and a previously unreleased song "Gunslinger". The album was issued in a limited run of 5,000 copies which were given out free at FYE record stores, mostly in their home state of Illinois.
In the summer of 2008, The Graduate completed a U.S. tour with My American Heart, Secondhand Serenade, PlayRadioPlay, and Rookie of the Year. On October 31, 2008, the group's label, Icon MES, folded, and because of this, the deluxe edition of their debut entitled Anhedonia Revisted (which had been slated for release on November 4, 2008) was cancelled. Following a tour with Ludo and Eye Alaska in November 2008, the group announced plans to write and record their follow-up full-length.
The band signed with Razor & Tie in May 2010; Brian McTernan produced their sophomore full-length album Only Every Time, which was released on August 31, 2010. Only Every Time reached #28 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Only Every Time was followed in 2011 with Every Other Time (a digital-only EP of B-sides) and the Sea Legs EP, as well as a vinyl release of Only Every Time on American Dream Records.
On July 1, 2011, The Graduate announced an indefinite hiatus.
On July 8, 2011, The Graduate announced that their final show would be at Reggie's Rock Club in Chicago, IL. On August 27, 2011 The Graduate performed their final show which was recorded live. Following the filming of the final show the band's frontman, Corey Warning, started a Kickstarter project with which they hoped to raise money to make a DVD commemorating the band and featuring their last show. The project's original goal, set on September 18, 2011 was to raise $3,000. Funding for the project ended October 18, 2011 and with 210 backers, the project was funded 350% ($10,513).
Matt Kennedy – guitar, keyboards, vocals
Tim Moore – drums
Max Sauer – guitar, vocals
Corey Warning – vocals
Jared Wuestenberg – bass
Discography
Albums
Anhedonia (2007, Icon MES Records)
Only Every Time (2010, Razor & Tie)
EPs
Horror Show (2006, self-pressed)
The Evergreen EP (2007, Icon MES Records)
Every Other Time (B-Sides from Only Every Time) (2011 Razor and Tie)
Sea Legs (EP) (2011, Self-Released)
Make Believe
The Graduate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one is listening
You can fool everyone outright
No one's paying attention
So wrong but how can you lose
When nobody tells the truth
They're talking through their teeth
Our heads are spinning around
We don't like it underneath the ground
Yeah, our heads are spinning around
No one's dancing, no one hears a sound
Late night and we're feeling bad
Only feeling with our hands
And we catch up with the wakin' world
All make believe
Our heads are spinning around
We don't like it underneath the ground
Yeah, our heads are spinning around
No one's dancing, no one hears a sound
Our heads are spinning around
We don't like it underneath the ground
Yeah, our heads are spinning around
No one's dancing, no one hears a sound
We don't like it underneath the ground
Our heads are spinning around
We don't like it underneath the ground
Yeah, our heads are spinning around
No one's dancing, no one hears a sound
Our heads are spinning around
We don't like it underneath the ground
Yeah, our heads are spinning around
No one's dancing, no one hears a sound
We don't like it underneath the ground
The lyrics to The Graduate's song "Make Believe" explore the theme of deception and dishonesty. The opening lines suggest that the singer believes they can say anything they like because no one is listening. They can also fool others, but no one is paying attention enough to catch them out. The song seems to be a commentary on the idea that people often mask their true feelings and intentions, instead choosing to present a veneer of perfection or conformity.
The chorus implies that this lack of honesty and transparency leads to a sense of disorientation and frustration. The singer's "head is spinning around" and they don't feel comfortable "underneath the ground." The lack of authenticity in people's interactions means that nobody is truly connecting with each other. The line, "No one's dancing, no one hears a sound," suggests a sense of isolation and loneliness as a result of this disconnect.
Overall, the lyrics of "Make Believe" suggest that people need to be more honest and open in their interactions if they want to forge true connections with others. The song is a commentary on the superficial nature of modern society, where people often hide their true selves for fear of being judged or rejected.
Line by Line Meaning
You can say anything you like
The singer acknowledges that they are in a situation where they are free to say and do anything they please.
No one is listening
The singer recognizes that nobody is truly paying attention or even cares about what they are saying.
You can fool everyone outright
The singer realizes that they are able to deceive others with ease.
No one's paying attention
The artist reiterates that nobody is listening to what they are saying or paying attention to their actions.
So wrong but how can you lose
The artist is aware of the ethical wrongness of their actions but also recognizes that there is no immediate consequence for them.
When nobody tells the truth
The singer acknowledges that everyone around them is lying and not telling the truth.
They're talking through their teeth
The singer recognizes that the people around them are not being honest or truthful in their speech.
All make believe
The artist concludes that everything around them is phony and fake, lacking any true authenticity.
Our heads are spinning around
The artist expresses a feeling of disorientation and confusion.
We don't like it underneath the ground
The artist expresses discomfort with their current situation, feeling stuck or trapped.
No one's dancing, no one hears a sound
The singer notes the lack of movement or sound around them, suggesting a general feeling of stagnation and lack of life.
Late night and we're feeling bad
The artist indicates that it is late at night and that they are experiencing negative emotions.
Only feeling with our hands
The singer suggests that they are engaging in physical sensations as a way of dealing with or expressing their emotions.
And we catch up with the wakin' world
The singer seems to be referring to being jolted out of a dreamlike or unconscious state and made aware of reality.
Our heads are spinning around
The singer reiterates a feeling of disorientation and confusion.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian McTernan, Corey Warning, Jared Nathan Wuestenberg, Matt Kennedy, Maxwell Andrew Sauer, Tim Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Naryan Claudy
Amazing song !
TheArchive91
Glad I discovered this song!