1. Jeffrey Lewis, Back When I Was Four (Excerpt)

Jacob

Five adolescence-themed songs:

1. Jeffrey Lewis, "Back When I was Four" (excerpt)

Back when I was 12 or so I swear to god I never felt so low

Everyone but me was making out and eating cookies

I had more than my brain could stand

I threw my life in a garbage can

I felt so weird

I had to disappear

In crying suicide disease.

At 15 getting stoned felt good and it sent me back to childhood

And nothing ever mattered to me more than that.

But then 16 became eclipse

My brain became apocalypse

I was lost and found and I've never been the same.

Back when I was 22 I left the best thing that I knew

and I gave it up for fortune and for fame

I played like I didn't know how

I shocked the world

I wowed the crowd

But I deserved more than what they gave

2. The Mr. T Experience, "Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend"

I still haven't found a girlfriend, though I've tried a lot
So can you help me please, it's tougher that I thought
The odds are pretty good
But the goods are pretty odd
Though at this point I'd take anything you've got
You see this all the time, nice girls in love with jerks
What could they be thinking? Tell me how it works
Yes I've got some problems
Well I wouldn't be the first
But the ones I haven't, mine are even worse
And even Hitler had a girlfriend that he could always call
Who'd always be there for him despite of all his faults
He was the worst guy ever, vile and despised
Even Hitler had a girlfriend so why can't I? Why can't I?
Life is full of contradictions, hard to understand
And for every happy woman there's a lonely man
Nixon had his puppy
Charles Manson had his clan
But God forbid that I get a girlfriend

Even Hitler had a girlfriend that he could call his own
To sweeten the days of bitterness and feeling all alone
I'm not as bad as Hitler but it doesn't mean a thing
Since they'd rather be with Hitler more than me, I don't see
Why they'd rather be with Hitler more that me

3. Suicidal Tendencies, "Institutionalized" (excerpt)

Sometimes I try to do things and it just doesn't work out the way I wanted to.
I get real frustrated and I try hard to do it and I take my time and it doesn't work out the way I wanted to.
It's like I concentrate real hard and it doesn't work out.
Everything I do and everything I try never turns out.
It's like I need time to figure these things out.
But there's always someone there going.

"Hey Mike,you know we've been noticing you've been having a lot of problems lately.

You know, maybe you should get away and maybe you should talk about it, maybe you'll feel a lot better"

And I go,"No it's okay, you know I'll figure it out, just leave me alone I'll figure it out.

You know I'll just work by myself."
And they go, "Well you know if you want to talk about it I'll be here you know and you'll probably feel a lot better if you talk about it."
And I go, "No I don't want to I'm okay, I'll figure it out myself" and they just keep bugging me and they just keep bugging me and it builds up inside and it builds up inside.
So you're gonna be institutionalized
You'll come out brainwashed with bloodshot eyes
You won't have any say
They'll brainwash you until you see their way.
[Chorus:]
I'm not crazy - in an institution
You're the one who's crazy - in an institution
You're driving me crazy - in an institution
They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy -- myself.
I was in my room and I was just like staring at the wall thinking about everything
But then again I was thinking about nothing
And then my mom came in and I didn't even know she was there she called my name
And I didn't even hear it, and then she started screaming: MIKE! MIKE!
And I go:
What, what's the matter?
And she goes:
What's the matter with you?
I go:
There's nothing wrong mom.
And she goes:
Don't tell me that, you're on drugs!
And I go:
No mom I'm not on drugs I'm okay, I was just thinking you know, why don't you get me a Pepsi.
And she goes:
NO you're on drugs!
I go:
Mom I'm okay, I'm just thinking.
She goes:
No you're not thinking, you're on drugs! Normal people don't act that way!
I go:
Mom just give me a Pepsi, please
All I want is a Pepsi, and she wouldn't give it to me
All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi, and she wouldn't give it to me.
Just a Pepsi.

4. Descendents, "Hope"

Why can't you see you torture me
You're already thinking about someone else
When he comes home
You'll be in his arms and I’ll be gone
But I know my day will come
I know someday I’ll be the only one
So now you wait for his spark
You know it'll turn you on
He's gonna make you feel
The way you want to feel
When he starts to lie
When he makes you cry
You know I’ll be there
My day will come i know
Someday I’ll be the only one
Call me selfish
Call me what you like
I think it's right
To want someone for all your own
And not to share her love
And I’ll have my way
And won't have to say anyway
Cause I’ve got you
You don't stand achance
So now you wait for his cock
You know it'll turn you on
He's gonna make you feel
The way you want to feel
When he starts tolie
When he makes you cry
You know I’ll be there
My day will come
I know someday I’ll be the only one
My day will come
I know someday I’ll be the only one
So you want perfection
I see your self destruction
You don't know what you want
It's gonna take you years to find out
I’m not giving up
And when you've had enough
You'll take your bruised little head
And you'll come running back to me
You know that I’m gonna be the only one.

5. Adolescents, "Pointless Teenage Anthem" (excerpt)

This is a pointless teenage anthem
About how great things used to be
The kind thattugsyour heartstrings
Like rhythmic atrophy
A pointless teenage anthem
We're not allowed to grow
Past the pointless teenage tantrums
Like the kind I used to throw
A pointless teenage anthem
Is what they expect from me
To hold on to the youth they lost
In 1983
A pointless teenage anthem
To keep the oldschoolyoung
So they can slam around and round
Lament what they've become
A pointless teenage anthem
Really shouldn't be too tough
I've written fifty other ones
More than enough
So here's a toast to happiness
To life and liberty
Life'sa blast, throw off the past
Irresponsibility

Helen

“Fifteen”

Taylor Swift

You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It's the morning of your very first day
And you say hi to your friends you ain't seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody's way

It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
"You know, I haven't seen you around before"

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen feeling like there's nothing to figure out
Well, count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen

You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail
And soon enough you're best friends
Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool
We'll be outta here as soon as we can

And then you're on your very first date and he's got a car
And you're feeling like flying
And you're momma's waiting up and you're thinking he's the one
And you're dancing 'round your room when the night ends
When the night ends

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
When you're fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin 'round
But in your life you'll do things greater than
Dating the boy on the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen

When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now

Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen

Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors

“The Young Blood”

The Naked and Famous

We're only young and naive still
We require certain skill
The mood it changes like the wind
Hard to control when it begins

The bittersweet between my teeth
Trying to find the in-between
Fall back in love eventually
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Can't help myself but count the flaws
Claw my way out through these walls
One temporary escape
Feel it start to permeate
We lie beneath the stars at night
Our hands gripping each other tight
You keep my secrets hope to die
Promises, swear them to the sky

The bittersweet between my teeth
Trying to find the in-between
Fall back in love eventually
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

[THOM]
As it withers
Brittle it shakes
Can you whisper
As it crumbles and breaks
As you shiver
Count up all your mistakes
Pair of forgivers
Let go before it's too late
Can you whisper
Can you whisper
Can you whisper
Can you whisper

[ALISSA]
The bittersweet between my teeth
Trying to find the in-between
Fall back in love eventually
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

[THOM] (Can you whisper)
The bittersweet between my teeth

[THOM] (Can you whisper)
Trying to find the in-between

[THOM] (Can you whisper)
Fall back in love eventually

[THOM] (Can you whisper)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

“Young Blood”

The Naked and Famous

We're only young and naive still
We require certain skill
The mood it changes like the wind
Hard to control when it begins

The bittersweet between my teeth
Trying to find the in-between
Fall back in love eventually
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

[ALISSA]
The bittersweet between my teeth
Trying to find the in-between
Fall back in love eventually
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

[THOM] (Can you whisper)
The bittersweet between my teeth

[THOM] (Can you whisper)
Trying to find the in-between

[THOM] (Can you whisper)
Fall back in love eventually

[THOM] (Can you whisper)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

“We are Young”

Fun.

Give me a second I
I need to get my story straight
My friends are in the bathroom
getting higher than the empire state
my lover she is waiting for me
just across the bar
My seat's been taken by some sunglasses
asking 'bout a scar
and I know I gave it to you months ago
I know you're trying to forget
but between the drinks and subtle things
the holes in my apologies
you know I'm trying hard to take it back
so if by the time the bar closes
and you feel like falling down
I'll carry you home

Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter
than the sun

Tonight
we are young
so let's set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun

Now I know that I'm not
all that you got
I guess that I
I just thought maybe we could find new ways to fall apart
But our friends are back
So let's raise a toast
Cause I found someone to carry me home

Tonight
We are young
So let's the set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun

Tonight
We are young
so let's set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun

Carry me home tonight
Just carry me home tonight
Carry me home tonight
Just carry me home tonight

The moon is on my side
I have no reason to run
So will someone come and carry me home tonight
The angels never arrived
but I can hear the choir
so will someone come and carry me home

Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun

Tonight
We are young
so let's set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun

So if by the time the bar closes
and you feel like falling down
I'll carry you home tonight

Luis o Barely Legal- The Strokes

I didn't take no shortcuts
I spent the money that I saved up
Oh, Momma running out of luck
Like my sister, don't give a fuck
I wanna steal your innocence
To me, my life, it don't make sense
Those strange manners, I loved 'em so
"Why won't you wear your new trench coat?"
I should've worked much harder
I should've just not bothered
I never show up on weekdays
Something that you learned yesterday
"Drive you to work; you'll be on time
These little problems they're not yours and mine,"
"Come on and listen to what I say
I've got some secrets that'll make you stay"
I just want to turn you down
I just want to turn you around
Oh, you ain't never had nothin' I wanted, but...
I want it all
I just can't figure out...
Nothing
And all together it went well
We made pretend we were best friends
Then she said, "Oh, you're a freak"
"They ordered me to make mistakes"
Together again, like the beginning
It all works somehow in the end
The things we did, the things you hide
For the record it's between you and I
Oh, I didn't take no shortcuts
I spent the money that I saved up
Oh, Momma running out of luck
Like my sister, don't give a fuck
I wanna steal your innocence
To me my life, it just don't make any sense
Those strange manners, I loved 'em so
"Why won't you wear your new trench coat?"
I just want to misbehave
I just want to be your slave
Oh, you ain't never had nothing I wanted, but...
I want it all
I just can't figure out...
Nothin'
And all together it went well
We made pretend we were best friends
Then she said, "Oh, I can wait"
They ordered me to make mistakes
Together again like the beginning
It all works somehow in the end
The things we did, the things you hide
And for the record, it's between you and I

Colours- Grouplove

I am a man, man, man, man
Up, up in the air
And I run around, round, round, round this down town and act like I don't care.
So when you see me flying by the planet's moon,
You don't need to explain if everything's changed
Just know I'm just like you.
Huh.
Ha,[x4]
So I pull the switch, the switch, the switch inside my head.
And I see black, black, green,and brown, brown, brown and blue, yellow, violets, red.
And suddenly a light appears inside my brain
And I think of my ways, I think of my days and know that I have changed.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
You've still got your health.
So mistress, mistress have you been up to the roof?
He shot himself, self
There's blood on the wall
'cause he couldn't face the truth.
Oh, knock that down, leave the ground and find some space
And tell your friends, friends,
You'll be back again, gain
Before it's too late.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad.
Oooooooooh, it's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
You've still got your health.
So I am a man, man, man, man
Up, up in the air
And I float around, 'round, 'round this downtown
And know I shouldn't care.
So when you see us there out in the open road
You don't need to explain
If everything's changed
Just know that you don't know.
We call it life
Oh yeah, that's what we call it.
We can't call it at all.
We call it life
Oh yeah, that's what we call it.
When you can't call it at all.
Yeah, we call it
Oh yeah that's what we call it.
(oooooooooohhhhh)
We do it for love, sweet love.