Graduate (song)

"Graduate" is a song by Third Eye Blind and written by Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan. The b-side "Horror Show" was written by Jenkins and Cadogan as well and later released on the "How's It Going to Be" single in 1998.

The band played this at the American Music Awards in 1998 changing some of the lyrics to "can I masturbate" in place of "can I graduate."

The song sounds as if it is about a typical high school graduation, however, Jenkins wrote it when, in the mid-90's, he wanted to "graduate" from being so unable to express himself, something that he also couldn't do with some of the labels wanting to buy his band.

Song Meaning
"People don't know -- they think it's about getting out of high school or something. No, 'My punk ass off the street/ Someone poked you down below.' It's basically because being a male prostitute is a metaphor for how we've all felt like when we're doing something that's way below our station in life. I think we've all been like, 'I'm just taking it up the ass here!' And that's what the song is about. 'Come on!/ Can I fucking graduate?' We've all had that feeling of 'You know, this is really beneath me.' Not to knock male prostitutes or anything, it's just a metaphor." - Stephan Jenkins

Track listing

 * 1) "Graduate" (LP version) - 3:08
 * 2) "Graduate" (remix) - 3:25
 * 3) "Horror Show" - 4:00

Trivia

 * "Graduate" was featured in the 1998 film Can't Hardly Wait starring Seth Green and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Lyrics
Can I Graduate, Can I Graduate, Can I look at faces that I meet, Can I get my punk-ass off the street, I've been living on for so long,

Can I Graduate,

To the bastard talking down to me, Your whipping boy calamity, Cross your fingers, I'm going to knock it all down,

Can I Graduate,

Echo fading, We can't let go, She goes walking by in slow mo', Sell your Heart out for a buck, Go on, Fade out, Before I get stuck.

Talking to somebody like you, Do you live the days you go through, Will this song live on long after we do,

Can I Graduate.

Can I look at faces that I meet, Can I get my punk-ass off the street. Won't die on the vine I want to knock it all down,

Can I Graduate,

Echo fading, Candle blow, Did you flash out long ago, Cross my fingers, I don't know someone poked you down below.

Can I Graduate,

Can I get my punk-ass off the street, Can I look into the faces that I meet, I'm not waiting here for you to die, Will this song live on long after we do.