I used to go to my counselor looking for some guidance
But all that he could tell me was that I was trying to fight it
Didn't pay attention, maybe I just didn't care
But I knew there's something better waiting for me out there
And bell after bell I would sit there and listen
My voice would be carried by a lack of attention
Impartial to a desk, I would tuck my knees in
Count out the seconds until the class ends
And somewhere in America, trying to keep his head up
A kid is being told that he isn't good enough
Still recites the pledge to the land of the free
But the rocket's red glare is still aiming at me
And I was not the only one
Higher education did this diamonds for the broke ones
And I was not the only one
Trying to change the world, but my test scores weren't high enough

Find it in myself, stuck in the way of someone else
Keeping track of dreams I've lost
From tally marks on my friend's arms
Gotta find it in myself, stuck in the way of someone else
All I need to set me free
This cap and gown they consume me

Graduated in white, never felt like I deserved it
Got by on wit, just to make a statement about the current state of the system
Cause friction, present a proper depiction cause all you get is fiction
I don't preach hate, but they still berate
Other kids call me gay cause I couldn't even think straight
But I'd rather be crooked than walk in straight lines
In a place where by nothing you are defined
I tried the safe route, going to college
But somehow outside is where I gained the knowledge
That a paper on the wall won't fill the void and it doesn't guarantee that I'll be employed
Half of my friends couldn't go
They said forget about colleges
A middle-class white kid trying to get a scholarship?
"Hell nah"
Cause the system is broken, and it's failed all of us but that's left unspoken
Find it in myself, stuck in the way of someone else
Keeping track of dreams I've lost
From tally marks on my friend's arms
Gotta find it in myself, stuck in the way of someone else
All I need to set me free
This cap and gown, they consume me

[Outro]

Everybody's got a fight
Everybody's got a chance, right?
So why do we feel so low
Even when we hold our heads high?
('Cause these rich girls with white pearls and gold on their sleeves)
Everybody's got a fight
(Outside of my headlights and these roads make believe I swear)
Everybody's got a chance, right?
(I can hear them cry)
So why do we feel so low
Even when we hold our heads high?
('Cause these rich girls.../I could tell you that I'm not in love)
Everybody's got a fight
(Outside of my headlights and these roads make believe I swear)
Everybody's got a chance, right?
(I can hear them cry/ And I could say that I've had too much)
So why do we feel so low
Even when we hold our heads high?
'Cause these rich girls.../I could tell you that I'm not in love/ I don't mind if there's traffic
Outside of my headlights and these roads make believe I swear/ We can turn the radio on
I can hear them cry/ And I could say that I've had too much/ Hold on to you like a bad habit
Turn my head and you might be gone
(This is love/ I could say that I'm not in love/ I don't mind if there's traffic)
Give me a drink she said
I wanna get wasted
(This is love/ We can turn the radio on)
Turn up this song, give me something to get stuck in my head
(This is love/ and I could say that I've had too much/ Hold on to you like a bad habit)
Room hazin' up, black on black from your cigarette
(This is love/ turn my head and you might be gone)
Last pack a day baby girl do you wanna pass
(This is love/ I could tell you that I'm not in love/ Speak, to me)
Straight from the bottom of the bottle to your lips
(This is love/ Tell me everything that you wanna hear)
Bottom of my heart, baby you a hot mess
(This is love/ And I could say that I've had too much/ Speak, to me)
Bottom of my heart, baby you a hot mess
(This is love/ Give me love, baby I'm all ears)
'Cause I'm not afraid to die
(This is love/ Speak, to me/ I...)
'Cause I'm not afraid to die
(Tell me everything that you wanna hear/ I don't know)
'Cause I'm not afraid to die
(Speak, to me/ How we can move on)
'Cause I'm not afraid to...
(Give me love baby I'm all ears)
'Cause I'm not afraid to die
(This is the life)
And I, I can't see
(ooooh/This is love)
Past the darkness
(This is love)
The darkness of the abyss