American Ed (Radio Edit)

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Jim Flannery

Jim Flannery is a country music artist known for his heartfelt lyrics and soulful singing style. He has gained a dedicated fan base through his relatable songs that often touch on themes of love, loss, and the simple joys of life. With his distinct voice and authentic storytelling, Jim Flannery has made a name for himself in the country music scene. more »

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Gather round the circle, it's your first day of school
You'll be doing as I say, and learning what your told
We start now when you're young cause its like this when you're old
So introduce yourselves, we'll start with you, now go
You'll know me as the twelfth name on your list
I'm a learning machine by nature and I'm too young to be dismissed
But I'll sit in the corner with my crayons, glue, and math
Cause everyone around me says that's the best path
Does this seem normal, does this seem right? Thankfully
There's no time for questions, or questioning in sight
Go play some games with the kids your own age
And trust everything will be all right in the end
Since I'm just four, that seems pretty fair
But is it fair that you're gonna talk about me without out me to my parents?
Will you tell them about the bullying? I'm worried I might be one too
Should I be reassured my parents placed their trust in you?
Don't despair, that's prolly a lot of unnecessary pressure on you too
That I can't cut out a circle or rhyme with try-and-glue
Is there anything else that you've been told to teach me
I know I'm just four, but what about our history

This all seems pretty simple, worksheets and tests
If this s**t was designed, who said it's the best
Not to worry, what would you rather instead
You know there's worse ways, anything betters in your head
But I'm 12 now, don't my ideas matter
If I'm old enough that some kids are fathers
And mothers, with honor roll mentions and spelling bee trophies
How much did I learn in the last 8 years that I still can't pick my seat
When will I need this, just for next semester?
But everything that I've been doing has been to climb up this ladder
How high does it go, I didn't notice it was all one piece
When I went from grade to grade, it seemed significant
Yet how many times have I learned about Thanksgiving
While being required to refer to the native people as Indians
That was just an example, I understand why you're making that face
While I'm struggling to accept our country's history's a disgrace
And that there's clearly one kid in this room being forced in last place
I know I'm only 12 and barely know the words to the pledge
And you're a full-grown human who's just doing what they said
I may not know s--t but I can sense what's controlling you too
Now can you help that kid out, and throw out the rules
We all may just benefit, in the worst case, we're fools

I'm still sitting here, after passing all this time
If its college I've been preparing for, I should probably smile
They accepted me, so I guess that's what this means
That everything we did together went exactly as was planned
So why the sudden attitude, what's changed since I was 12
That all this felt so controlling and I feel so alone
The trophies and accolades, the A's and B's you demanded
While I'm not free to walk the halls or be in the cafeteria
I switched over to this magnet school thinking I'd feel better
The kids are nicer prolly 'cause they f--king chose to be there
But why's there so much pressure chasing letters just for letters
It's for someone else's approval, isn't it, but does it really matter?
If I can't form my own opinion of myself, then isn't that a problem
Using critical thinking to make good judgments would sure as f--k be helpful
If you're so unsatisfied then why'd you choose this road to being?
No one told me there were options, I was taught just to keep climbing
And who taught you that? Was that in the curriculum?
I kinda f--king doubt it, not much I can do now

Was it worth it all?
The time and money invested for my inevitable fall?
I cannot blame my college or my K-12 schools
But something's gone wrong, when I'm lacking the tools
I could analyze what I was taught, but not what was left out
Resulting in my inability to function in a world without
Prescribed expectations, order, judgment and limits
If I don't see where I fit in, then I must be the idiot
But how can this be if I'm so f--king great
At least that's what the report cards and transcripts all say
I can find work, so I guess, 'thank you', to school
But that's a long f--king time to be under control
Without being prepared for a dystopian world
Where there's not enough salary to bribe your own soul
To not feel something when you feel you're in hell
What am I a part of? And what's not for sale?
Have I wasted my time? do I have the appropriate skills?
Should I be doing something more than just climbing a hill?
Is there even a life worth living beyond paying bills?
Or is this world all about money, power, and/or control?

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