I wrote this song looking to merge the sounds and vibes of Green Day and Buddy Holly. The songs is about innocence, both lost and gained, and how past reflections often determine our paths forward; hence, why I chose to merge the sound of two different rock vibes--one from the past and one from the present. Essentially, this is a 3 minute, fast paced, rock soundtrack for all of us to consider how we each define innocence.

To dive a bit deeper into the song: the institution and/or time of our life that we refer to as "high school" is merely the backdrop, or the foundational metaphor, if you will. The bottom line is, no matter what the dream or chance taken is doesn't matter as we each have our own dreams and our own moments of chance or risk taking. Those who can do it live with the notion that the innocence that often fuels our dreams when we were in high school never leaves us; therefore, for these people, "innocence is just a state of mind." But of the group that never goes after their dreams, innocence only exists back in high school and they wish they could go back there to get that innocence, but of course we all know "high school can't last forever." These people do not realize that innocence does not come from high school, but from within; therefore, they are "aged by the bitter hope for a different time."

Lyrics

The year I turned 17 was the year that I was told to dream
Where my life would go and what I’d find
But I was dreaming long ago and they told me I had to let it go
It was born to the innocence of a youthful mind

Dreams they help to keep us young and they shouldn’t be stopped by anyone
Who cares what others think you’ve gotta try
Those who look back to find that dreams were only nursery rhymes
Have lost themselves to “once upon a time”

High school can’t last forever
Innocence is just a state of mind
Those who look to days gone by regret the things they did not try
Aged by the bitter hope for a different time

So many years sped on by, my life has changed 1000 times
Everything and nothing is now mine
I’m not as young as I thought I’d be but I keep a certain virginity
Innocence and youth are in the mind

High school can’t last forever
Innocence is just a state of mind
Those who look to days gone by regret the things they did not try
Aged by the bitter hope for a different time

High school can’t last forever
Innocence is just a state of mind
Those who look to yesteryear always seem to shed a tear
Aged by the lost hope for another time