graduation

I want music to sound
the way I feel inside
I want reverberation
I want noise
Let me show you what I mean
You can chase
the shadows that still wander
those Nebraska dirt roads
Blaupunkt, Metallica's black album
Guttermouth, AFI
So close to free
packed like dynamite
ready for anything
destined for nothing
If I knew all of this
would I still
make the same mistakes
would I still
handle the same snakes
If people make pictures interesting
then where am I in this one
Bad Religion was the soundtrack of high school
and Very Proud of Ya saved my life
one awful summer

You were there
before the storm came
you spoke peace
into my burning ears
Caffeine, 1-800-OHIO
You and I were instantly inseparable
it's hard to understand
the sugar, the adrenaline
the hope I poured into you
Late nights, cops at the window
deserted streets
kids behaving like kids
what a backdrop
but you and I were so sure
Relentlessly I fought for you
wickedly you drew me in
You saw the places
you tasted the air
tell me you can feel it
the lingering despair
There are no rules
there never were
just you and me
feeling for each other
beyond our collapsing dreams.