Acting so affected got dejected at the dances
Drinking soda in the corners while the older ones took chances
With the debutantes and bon vivants from influential families
I was unsung, unstrung and ill a ease

Freshman; what a terrible year
Tension, manic depression, delusion, fear...

On the junior varsity football team
I was serving my time to fill that high school dream
With a mouth guard in my mouth, white socks on my feet
So many pads I could barely breathe
During the National Anthem Oh say could I see
Everybody on the field was bigger than me

But I'd been conditioned, I took my position
Saw that fullback coming like a black steam engine
Like I'd been taught I stuck my shoulder in his buckle
Like he'd been brought up he smashed my face with his knuckle
I came to, asking what was the trouble
As they took me from the field with a stretcher and a shovel

Freshman; injustice everywhere
Never question suppression, stay away from longhairs
Oo, wa wa, oo

Fifteen years old oh my God
I had three years to go as the new kid on the block
My band was breaking up, my face was breaking out
I was smashed against the school walls, reeling through the dance halls
I said: "My guidance counselor, can you help me out?
I'm so confused I can barely stand up"
She said, "William, pain is an integral part of your knowledge
By the way, have you decided where you're going to apply to college?

Freshman; I screamed "I can't take it anymore. Some one
Let me out of here I wanna be a sophomore."
Freshman year was long and cruel
Freshman year was the boot camp of high school

© 1983 Willie Nininger