Dear me, here's a letter I've been thinking you could do better With a little help from me Buy Apple, and hold it When you've got a good hand don't fold it Try to be kind to people you see But don't you step on a butterfly unless you should A careless move could end this world Don't want to be misunderstood Buy Apple, and hold it you can underline that and bold it! Maybe grab an internet domain or three I'm learning how time works But I don't want us to be jerks So you shouldn't sell until you're me We could try to talk about love I don't know a lot Maybe you could write me back and tell me what I've forgot I've published; I've dated But the wisdom of old is overrated I don't want to seal you up in a box If changes could matter This letter might cause reality to shatter We'd have a temporal paradox <instrumental break> There are ways that you could do better But I'm asking you to disregard this letter And just be yourself Your original self Just be yourself Sincerely, me P.S.: Buy Apple!

All The Way Up Brian, listen, I am writing you this letter Cuz reminiscing I think life coulda been better I mean, don’t worry, things are going fine But let’s interrogate the storyline You go to school, you’re good at writing papers But look at all the stuff you’re putting off for later You’re a musician with pernicious inhibition You’re just wondering and wishing but I’m asking you to listen: 　　Don’t let anybody stand in your way 　　Least of all yourself, least of all today 　　Listen don’t let anybody turn your spirit down 　　You gotta amplify the sound, yeah turn it all the waaaay up I’m sorry if I’m coming down a little strong here, But 2017 has kinda been a long year, I think about you, all the things you won’t do, Instead of living in fear I wanna help you break through But you middle class white boys thriving in the nineties Are bound for the white noise of existential crises You need a mission not yr parent’s permission So forgive the repetition but I’m asking you to listen: 　　Chorus If I had a time machine I’d bring you here to 2017, And show you everything will turn out fine, just fine Yeah if I had a time machine, I’d take you back to when we were fifteen, And turn you loose to redesign, to realign, to redefine, I'd go back in time to redesign it all

Dear Me at 15... I know you don't want to hear this, I remember how I used to be Advice from someone older, on what they think you'll need but I'm here to tell you, I've done it all before and if there's anything I've learned it's there's always something more You're gonna look around and wonder "Just where to I belong?" You're gonna try a lot of places You're gonna get it wrong But they're just stops you have to make so be brave and see it through and know that there's a place out there for you The boy you'll cry over in college The one you'll follow out West The who'll teach you 3 chords The one who'll think he knows best They're just stops you have to make so be brave and see it through and know that there's someone out there for you When you're feeling small, and unheard Try and remember, these words There will be a lot of joy A lot of sadness in between Plenty of second guessing while you wear your heart out on your sleeve But they're just risks you have to take so be brave and see it through and know that there is room out there for you know that there is room out there for you Love me, From 2017

Dear me, I'm writing to inform you your troubles will work out to be ok, today Hear me, not fighting to reform you and for the rules I think you should obey, okay? Steady on You gotta keep on fighting don't look down Steady on to the horizon Steady on Those high school pricks will try to grind you down Steady on You'll rise above them Hey me, we know that this note finds you all full of doubt, angsty and emo, ya know? Yay me, although that's now behind you there's a full amount of nasty stuff to go, and so Steady on You gotta keep on fighting don't look down Steady on to the horizon Steady on Those high school pricks will try to grind you down Steady on You'll rise above them Everything is gonna be all right Everything is gonna be all right Things seem pretty bleak right now but everything works out somehow Yeah everything is gonna be all right Steady on You gotta keep on fighting don't look down Steady on to the horizon Steady on Those high school pricks will try to grind you down Steady on You'll rise above them Steady on You gotta keep on fighting don't look down Steady on to the horizon Steady on Those high school pricks will try to grind you down Steady on You'll rise above them

Hey, Before I say what there is to say, It's gonna be OK He Wasn't all that we made him to be, But now he's what you need Please take this letter as a sign You wish you were better, but just give it time She Will make your mind all foggy and blurred But you'll get over her They Will find your heart torn open in fear And they're still here I wrote this letter as a sign You need to get better, but just give it time To breathe... Stop and smell the roses And sip a little wine Hold yourself the closest And always speak your mind Never go out searching, cuz trouble always finds a way You're getting better, day by day... You Have all you need, it's wrapped up inside But it's OK to cry We Have seen the edge, we've been to the brink We're stronger than you think I hope that you'll read this as your sign You're gonna get better, but just give it time To breathe, and please... Stop and smell those roses And you can try wine Know that what's the closest Isn't always worth your time Call off all your searches, cuz trouble's gonna find you anyway But you're still better, day by day... I I'm doing fine, but I don't know why I'm still afraid to cry I love you, and goodbye Sincerely, you and I

Dear “Fifteen-Year-Old-Me” . . . YOU MADE IT THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. THE WORST IS BEHIND YOU NOW. IT GETS BETTER FROM HERE. THERE’S SO MUCH AHEAD OF YOU. SO MUCH TO EXPLORE . . . 　　What the fuck are you doing? What? 　　What are you doing? I’m writing a letter to “me-at-fifteen.” 　　Why? It’s fun. 　　It’s stupid . . . It is not . . . 　　Yeah it is . . . Why is it stupid? 　　Well, right off the top of my head? 　　Uhhh . . . you’ll never get it? 　　“Fifteen-Year-Old-You” will never get it! I know I’ll never get it -- it’s just a creative writing assignment. 　　No, see . . . that might make sense 　　if it was “Fifteen-Year-Old-You” 　　writing to “Almost-Forty-Three- 　　Year-Old-You.” That might be 　　worth something. This is just dumb. Fine. I’m aware of your opinion. But I’m doing this, so . . . okay? 　　Whatever . . . SO MUCH TO EXPLORE . . . THE THINGS THAT YOU’LL WRITE! THE THINGS YOU’LL DO! THE THINGS THAT YOU’LL LEARN THAT MAKE YOU YOU! THE TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS . . . 　　What the hell -- 　　are you writing a fucking musical?! What? 　　What the hell is this? It’s a first draft. 　　It’s a pile of crap. It is not! 　　Please -- 　　Bo Burnham would hand you your ass. Shut up! 　　You want a better start to your song? 　　Try this: 　　“Dear Fifteen-Year-Old-Me” 　　IT’S THE YEAR 　　TWENTY-SEVENTEEN, 　　AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW 　　THAT THEY STILL HAVEN’T 　　gotten around to inventing time travel 　　so you’re never going to get 　　this stupid letter . . . 　　 Okay, that’s enough. Just stop. 　　Why? Are you done being stupid? No! I’m not being stupid! It’s just a creative writing exercise! Who cares if I’ll never actually get it . . . It’s fun to imagine fifteen-year-old-me reading it. 　　So this is just an act of imagination. Yeah. 　　Like a parallel universe. Maybe. 　　Where time-traveling letters are axiomatic? All right . . . 　　No, no, it’s okay, I can work with that. 　　Let’s try that letter again. 　　“Dear Self” . . . 　　I KNOW EV’RYTHING ABOUT YOU. 　　BECAUSE I AM YOU . . . Okay . . . 　　I KNOW WHEN YOU 　　WERE FIFTEEN 　　YOU HADN’T HAD 　　THIS THOUGHT YET. 　　BUT IF IT GETS INVENTED, 　　DON’T LET THEM 　　TELEPORT YOU. 　　‘CAUSE ON THAT END 　　THEY’LL CREATE YOU, 　　BUT ON THIS END 　　IT WILL KILL YOU. 　　AND THAT GUY WILL GO OFF. 　　HE’LL THINK YOUR THOUGHTS. 　　HE’LL HAVE YOUR 　　MEMORIES AND BRAIN. 　　HE’LL LIVE YOUR LIFE. 　　HE’LL LOOK JUST LIKE YOU. 　　WHILE ON YOUR END, 　　YOU’LL BE DEAD. 　　HE’LL LIVE YOUR LIFE. 　　HE’LL MEET YOUR FRIENDS. 　　HE’LL FUCK YOUR WIFE; 　　ENJOY HER BLOWJOBS . . . Okay hold it -- hold it! Why are you telling this to a fifteen-year-old? 　　Oh, sorry -- no. 　　That letter wasn’t to him. 　　That letter was to you. What? 　　Yeah. Why? 　　‘Cause I’m trying to save your life. What?! 　　(Our life . . .) What are you talking about? 　　Well -- in a world where 　　time-traveling letters exist, 　　it’s real easy for an idiot like you 　　to kill yourself, or . . . wink yourself 　　out of existence, or kill off 　　your timeline or something. 　　 What?! 　　Okay -- here. Imagine this: 　　I JUST GOT A LETTER. 　　IT CAME FROM THE FUTURE 　　WHEN I’M IN MY FORTIES. 　　I READ IT THIS MORNING. 　　IT SAYS THAT I’M AWESOME. 　　THE WORST IS BEHIND ME. 　　I’M SUCH A GOOD PERSON! 　　MY LIFE IS FANTASTIC! 　　SO I’M GONNA COAST NOW. 　　I’M JUST GONNA FAKE IT, 　　SECURE IN THE KNOWLEDGE 　　THAT I’M GONNA MAKE IT. 　　AND THIRTY YEARS LATER, 　　YOU WON’T RECOGNIZE ME, 　　‘CAUSE I’LL BE A DOUCHEBAG, 　　and you won’t exist any more . . . Why do you have to be like this? 　　Change something in the past, 　　you create a new timeline, 　　which might mean the end 　　of your timeline. You know you’ve taken all the fun out of this . . . 　　All the fun out of what? 　　Your self-indulgent, masturbatory 　　gedanken experiment? Was this 　　just for you, or were you going to 　　share this sad little song with others? Maybe . . . 　　Oh! This just gets better and better! 　　What makes you think that people 　　would want to listen to some showtune 　　where a guy performs the meaningless 　　act of dispensing vacuous wisdom 　　across three decades to a younger 　　version of himself whose future is now 　　already predetermined? I mean, the 　　least you could do is respect everyone’s 　　time and just distill your life into a 　　mercifully brief haiku: 　　　　I’ve built my whole life 　　　　on advantages I won 　　　　in a lottery. You’re an ass. 　　Doesn’t mean I’m wrong. 　　If you want to share your 　　reflections on your life with 　　a wider audience, at least 　　make it something meaningful 　　and resonant. Can we just stop now? 　　No. You started this -- let’s do it. 　　Here’s the song you should write . . . 　　WHEN YOU’RE THIRTY-FOUR 　　YOU’LL DO SOME STUPID SHIT 　　AND SPRAIN YOUR ANKLE. 　　AND THEN YOU’LL 　　QUICKLY LEARN 　　YOUR ARMS HAVE MUSCLES 　　THAT YOU NEVER KNEW 　　WERE THERE. 　　AND FOR TWO WEEKS 　　ON YOUR CRUTCHES, 　　YOU’LL NO LONGER 　　BE AS ABLE 　　AS YOU WERE. 　　AND YOU’LL GET A 　　TINY GLIMPSE OF 　　WHAT A PERSON 　　WHO’S DISABLED MUST 　　ENDURE. 　　BUT THE OTHER 　　NINETY-NINE-POINT-NINE 　　PERCENT OF YOUR EXISTENCE, 　　YOU WON’T HAVE TO THINK 　　ABOUT THESE THINGS 　　AT ALL . . . 　　YOU’RE SO LUCKY . . . 　　WHEN YOU’RE TWENTY-FIVE 　　YOU’LL JUST BE STARTING OUT. 　　A BRAND-NEW TEACHER. 　　AND YOU’LL BE 　　UNDERPAID. 　　AND YOUR FIRST PAYCHECKS 　　WON’T BE QUITE ENOUGH 　　TO SPARE. 　　AND FOR FOUR WEEKS 　　BUYING GROCERIES, 　　YOU’LL DEBATE HOW 　　MANY ITEMS 　　YOU CAN TAKE. 　　AND YOU’LL GET A 　　TINY SENSE OF 　　THE DECISIONS 　　THOSE IN POVERTY 　　MUST MAKE. 　　BUT THE OTHER 　　NINETY-NINE-POINT-EIGHT 　　PERCENT OF YOUR EXISTENCE, 　　YOU WON’T HAVE TO COUNT 　　YOUR POCKET CHANGE 　　AT ALL . . . 　　YOU’RE SO LUCKY . . . 　　 　　‘CAUSE YOU DIDN’T CHOOSE 　　YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 　　YOU DIDN’T CHOOSE 　　YOUR HOME. 　　YOU DIDN’T CHOOSE 　　YOUR PARENTS 　　OR YOUR FAM’LY. 　　SO THE THINGS YOU’VE BEEN 　　AFFORDED BY 　　YOUR FAM’LY 　　AND YOUR HOME 　　WERE KIND OF RANDOM . . . 　　LIKE A LOTTERY . . . 　　TO SEE HOW MUCH 　　FOOD YOU GET. 　　TO SEE HOW MUCH 　　LOVE YOU GET. 　　TO SEE HOW MUCH 　　ACCESS TO BOOKS, 　　MUSIC, ART, 　　EDUCATION, 　　OR SPORTS YOU GET. 　　TO SEE IF YOUR 　　STREETS WILL BE SAFE 　　OR YOUR HOME WILL BE SAFE 　　OR YOUR AIR WILL BE SAFE 　　OR YOUR WATER IS SAFE 　　OR YOUR COUNTRY IS SAFE 　　OR YOUR FAM’LY IS SAFE . . . 　　OR IF YOU 　　GET TO TRAVEL . . . 　　OR SEE DOCTORS 　　AND DENTISTS . . . 　　OR SPEAK MORE THAN 　　ONE LANGUAGE . . . 　　OR YOU GROW UP 　　WITH LOVE . . . 　　WHEN YOU’RE FIRST CONCEIVED, 　　A LOT OF WHO YOU’LL BE 　　IS PREDETERMINED. 　　AND FROM THE 　　DAY YOU’RE BORN, 　　YOUR LIFE GETS SHAPED BY 　　FORCES OUT OF YOUR 　　CONTROL. 　　AND FOR THOSE WHO 　　HIT THE JACKPOT, 　　YOU CAN LIVE YOUR 　　LIFE LIKE NOTHING’S 　　OUT OF PLACE. 　　YOU’LL JUST SOMETIMES 　　GET AN INKLING 　　OF WHAT THOSE WHO 　　WEREN’T AS LUCKY 　　HAVE TO FACE. 　　BUT THE OTHER 　　NINETY-NINE-POINT-SOME 　　PERCENT OF YOUR EXISTENCE, 　　YOU WON’T THINK ABOUT 　　THIS LOTTERY 　　AT ALL . . . 　　LIKE BEING TALL . . . 　　OR BEING HALE . . . 　　OR BEING WHITE . . . 　　OR BEING MALE . . . 　　OR BEING STRAIGHT . . . 　　FUCKING. LUCKY. 　　So whatever, dude. 　　I’ve said my piece. 　　Do what you’re gonna do . . . < sigh > YOU MADE IT THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. THE WORST IS BEHIND YOU NOW. Yeah, okay, this is fuckin’ stupid . . .

Good morning 7AM again You're going back to school With all your fake fucking friends They don't wait for you But you take it on the chin So button up your ill-fitting shirt and let your Green Day albums carry you in I'm writing now to tell you that you're still only 15 You're only getting started and there's much more you can be You're not something to walk on and you are not alone It's all gonna be OK when you get back home And when they push you And when they call you names Don't go blaming yourself You're perfectly OK It's OK to be angry Your anger's justified It's only gonna make you stronger with the passage of time I'm writing now to tell you that you're still only 15 You're only getting started and there's much more you can be You're not something to walk on and you are not alone It's all gonna be ok when you get back home And when you dress up Question your sanity Asking yourself What's fucking wrong with me It's just the first step To the woman you want to be Do you remember You've seen her in a dream I want you to know That dream it does come true If you could see me now You'd never believe it's you I'm writing now to tell you that you're still only 15 And everything is changing here in 2017 And though there will be laughing and though there will be names I need you to believe that you're gonna be OK

Time travel is a tricky sort of anxious hell Trying not to make the universe fold in on itself So I would really love to save you some heartache But you and I know you make your own mistakes At fifteen you know everything like most teenagers in time So I know a futile fight but I guess I should still try Don't waste all your time trying to be perfect But even so, know good enough Isn't always good enough You should try a little harder The world does not revolve around you Happiness is mostly temporary circumstance And you never will shake off your curse for games of chance But you will find your love a little later than you'd hoped Stick with the music In the meantime it helps you cope She'll save your life and you'll start to resemble Who you were always trying to be And of course you're going to make a few mistakes But I'll leave it how it happened because I think that's what it takes Don't waste all your time trying to be perfect But even so, know good enough Isn't always good enough You should try a little harder The world does not revolve around you

Your mom's gonna give you $10 to let you pick out one cassette This time when your hand goes for 'Hyesteria', put it back and buy Document Don't worry about blowin' your first paycheck On 45s and bleached pants You still got that new order single, Even though you never dance. Don't let mom and dad sell all your vinyl Keep your cassettes in that wooden box you built! The time is gonna come when you'll wanna hear a song on wax, the way that god intended it. Don't let mom and dad sell all your vinyl Keep your cassettes in that wooden box you built! The time is gonna come when you'll wanna hear a song on wax, the way god intended it. You're gonna feel bad about the record club, 10 CDs for just one penny. Too good a deal for a kid without any. That fine print suckers in so many. Guess what kid? It ends up ok. You still got a few of them left Camper Van Beethoven, Husker Du, And the Replacements And the Best of the Grateful Dead Don't let your mom and dad sell all your vinyl Keep your cassettes in that wooden box you built! The time's gonna come when you'll wanna hear a song on wax..... on wax..... on wax...... the way god intended...... it.

Hey Fifteen, this is Twenty-Five, checking in to let you know how you've been Things are cool, you got that job right out of school all in all, it's all a win But hey, gotta warn ya, when you get to California you're gonna meet this girl who's like a curse At first it's fun, but she'll cut your friends out one by one and after that it just gets worse Don't sweat it man, I've got your back, we've got a plan you'll listen to me if you're smart Stay out of Alameda, that way you'll never meet her, and she'll find some other guy to tear apart 　Hindsight is 20-20 　that's what all the people say 　If what it takes is cleaning up this one mistake 　then it's gonna be ok This is Thirty-Five, don't even listen to that guy that girl is the best thing in your life You were a jerk, but you patched it up and made it work pretty soon she'll be your wife But listen man, stop playing in that band you gotta buckle down and make some dough Put that guitar away, it's never gonna pay and buy some Enron stock, it's gonna grow and grow 　Hindsight is 20-20 　that's what all the people say 　If what it takes is fixing one or two mistakes 　then it's gonna be ok For fuck's sake don't buy Enron that's one thing I know at Forty-Five The marriage was a joke, she cleaned me out and left me broke now music's all that's keeping me alive Fifty-Five has come around, I'm so glad I found the one I should've been with from the start But if I'd never been through all I've been through I wouldn't be the man who won her heart It might be nice, if I could give you some advice but Fifteen, you don't need it anyhow Just believe me, you're gonna wanna see this fifteen-year-old kid I'm raising now 　Hindsight ain't 20-20 　don't care what the people say 　It's gonna take at least a hundred more mistakes 　Go ahead and do it, just gotta struggle through it 　in the end I know it's gonna be, it's gonna be ok

Please bear in mind, I promise you won't go blind And your hands will not grow hair. I wrote this note to you, a teen. From you, two thousand seventeen Your future self has this advice to share. The fears, the stress, the loneliness, The lack of friends but zit excess. Listen to what I say to you: it'll get better. Not giving a damn about being cool Makes you untouchable in school This is what I say to you in this letter To my teen self. Technically unethical: But what you invest in Staar Surgical In a week will grow eight hundred percent. Sure, money can't buy you happiness But your poor happy-self must profess He would rather be rich and just a bit despondent. The hopelessness of a bad address, the endless distress of no romance, Listen to what I say to you: it'll get better. Stand up to the bullies no matter the size 'Tis better to be bloodied than terrorized. This is what I say to you in letter To my teen self. Listen to what I say to you: it'll get better. This is what I say to you in letter To my teen self.

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to me! Since I’m You and you’re me Happy Birthday to we! You’re fifteen and I’m older, by a decade or four Plus 3 years besides- but who’s keeping score? I’ve thought long and hard about what I should say Of things that in life I have learned the hard way. My only problem is- which should I tell? If I say “Don’t do this” would my life go to hell? I don’t want to lose all the good that I’ve known To avoid looking dumb or feel left all alone Bad times- there’s been loads Good times- just the same You’ll see both come along in your life In spite of the pains I can see what’s been gained As a mother, grandmother and wife So here’s my advice (musical pause) Brush your teeth. No, I MEAN it Twice a day! Even more! Because root canals hurt just like hell. Not to mention the cost. So go brush and floss! It isn’t that hard to keep well Try to forgive, since you cannot forget (I know, I have tried, it’s no use) The ones who will hurt you are not worth your time Walk away, don’t put up with abuse There are times when you’ll feel like you’re stuck in a well And a voice whispers “Why don’t you die”? Don’t wait for somebody to see that you fell Get some help-right away! Don’t just cry! Hug your mom and your dad. Hug your brothers and sis Don’t complain all the time- come what may Compliment people whenever you can It’s so easy to make someone’s day Live, love and laugh, and help others laugh too Learn all you can then go teach Pick up all your messes Hang up all your dresses… But most of all GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH! No I MEAN it! Twice a day! Even more! Because root canals hurt just like hell. Not to mention the cost. So go brush and floss! It isn’t that hard to keep well Go brush your teeth!

Hey there, kid I know what it's like to be in your shoes There's so much ahead You don't really know which path you're gonna choose But I've walked these roads, I know where they go And how they'll shape your views Because I've been there, I'd like to share Some wisdom you could use I could define A timeline you could follow carefully The times when you'll thrive, the things you'll survive The things you can't foresee I could improve, or even remove Some hardships you're due for But then again, my good intentions Might end up hurting more If I shelter you I could soften you too much And if I tell the truth You mightn't take it as such If I give you too many shortcuts you could lose touch Yeah it's tough but it's true It's a Catch-22 I just don't know what to tell you There's tough times ahead But focus instead on how they'll strengthen you You'll suffer loss But it's a cost we all must suffer through Your very worst days Will help you in ways you cannot comprehend Take it from me Someday you'll see it's worth it in the end I could let you in On all the tricks I now know But it would be a sin To deprive you of your chance to grow If you don't make these mistakes It'd be the biggest mistake you could make And it's a risk you'll have to take It's a Catch-22 I just don't know what to tell you What things to share What things that I should hide What to be proud of What to keep bottled inside Any one of them Might change your lot in life You might not break your heart You might not meet your wife There's some thing I cannot tell you I'm scared if I do You won't catch twenty-two of the most meaningful years of your life

Dear 15, It's me 45! (I) just found this mixtape from ‘87. It's a roadmap through hell on route to heaven. Please forgive this diachronic crime, You could use some tweaks while there's still time. “The One I Love” and then “No New Tale to Tell”- Your high school heartaches only last a spell. Just relax, Christine is not the one. You'll carry the cross, then you’ll marry the pun. If you hold onto your stock, you'll become a millionaire. There's so much pain ahead, but don't despair. I know you know, that we really never should smoke. But it's all the sugar that gets us, from all that Coke. “Red Rain” goes into “One Tree Hill” School work is worth it, if you can swallow the pill. Mom will die soon, I wish we could save her life. Enjoy her while you can, try to keep it light. “Satch Boogie” and finished with “How Soon is Now?” Be wary of your OCD, don't get lost in the clouds. No one ever has long enough. Smooth sailin’ can be so rough.

Take care of yourself Let’s rewind to the mid twenty-ohs See the kid with the runny nose Yeah, the big funny nose Shuffling around in his thrift store clothes Snuffling and sneezing with yet another cold That’s me, and mostly he’s doing okay Smart boy, he’ll make something of himself someday But if I could write a letter, try to make his life better, Well I know just what I’d say: If you feel like shit, stay home from school If you feel like shit, stay home from school If you feel like shit, stay home from school Take care of yourself Dear Micah, want to know why your colds last two weeks each? Cause you still come to school when you’re too weak to speak Drag yourself from desk to desk, your respiratory mess infesting the rest Of the class, who would love to be home in bed But their asses are stuck in homeroom instead While you’ve got an excuse cause you look half dead With your leaking nostrils, your swollen head But here you are, never miss a day of school And it’s weird, bizarre, you look like a fool Yeah, a few years later you’ll get a special piece of paper But no one thinks “Perfect Attendance” is cool If you feel like shit, stay home from school If you feel like shit, stay home from school If you feel like shit, stay home from school Take care of yourself Take a look in the attendance book, you’ve got a spotless record But your history of salubrity, well, that’s a lot more checkered So if you feel like shit, stay home from school If you feel like shit, stay home from school If you feel like shit, stay home from school Take care of yourself Take care of yourself

Hey you What are trying to prove? You know this loneliness and pain it will not last I'd tell you all the things I've been through But that would rush you to the ending way too fast Please believe me Everything will be alright Please don't lie awake throughout the night Till the dawn Some things They just aren't meant to be You should try and shape the future not the past Trust me You won't beat gravity So get back up again don't wait until you're asked Please don't lie awake throughout the night Please believe me Everything will be alright I assume.

dear boy, here is a letter providing some advice I can tell you who I am I am old and not so wise there are so many things I'd like to tell and rest assured I know you well 15 is a joyous age so much to learn enjoy it while you can it will never return and please believe in yourself have more confidence follow your heart and do what you want to do try to stand more on your own two feet don't listen so much to what other people say stay in contact with your friends you might need them and they may need you too don't be so shy loosen up don't be so hard on yourself tough times will pass by it's part of life and please believe in yourself have more confidence follow your heart and do what you want to do please don't go to university to study things you don't really like take a year off by plane or by bike ask for advice, people will be nice dear me I know you won't listen but I don't lie please give this a try

Hey me, now I’m twenty years older I beg you attend to my song It’s full of advice for the future I promise this won’t take too long I know that the future excites you I know that you love all this tech There’s good news and bad news on that score But I’ll say now it’s not like Star Trek So here is the first thing I’ll tell you Biochemistry pays really bad In two years you’ll swap to computing A career that will make you quite glad But there’s pitfalls and problems a-plenty Just remember the number one rule Don’t work where there isn’t a passion For product or system or tool Your social life’s going to get better You’ll make new sets of friends on the way You’re going to lose some as well But there are more the very next day There are things that you really must do I one hundred percent don’t regret: Go and make friends with the writers And people who have cats as pets Get head start on learning Aikido It really is perfect for you Not like the karate you just quit Thoughtful and effective too You’re going to find you like teaching Might want to make it your career My PhD was a failure This path isn’t yours to adhere And it turns out that you’re a musician I know you don’t think that right now I know that your sister’s much better But you know if you think about how She has practised and played and performed And you’ve just not bothered at all Of course she’s become so much better With that three-year head start while you crawled But here is the crux of the matter It’s about what music you love You need to look at traditional folk That and baroque will fit you like a glove Go learn how to play the recorder It is most satisfyingly strange And sounds good when played with conviction Although it is lacking in range There is one final thing I must mention You’ve had much confusion inside It’s not going to stop any time soon But I can tell you now with some pride You are gay and it doesn’t matter To anyone vaguely smart But just to admit it to yourself Is an enormous weight off your heart

[Preamble] This may sound crazy but in just about a decade You’ll invent time travel, and the best way it’s displayed Is to tell yourself back in the 11th grade That you should write your school report about our 40th president. [Verse 1] Back in the 80s, a new administration Rose from the ground in the heart of our nation He wasn’t a saint, he wasn’t a pagan Just a white actor with the last name of Had a crazy idea about the way money works If you’re off for the better, it’s better for the worse It don’t flow up, it don’t flow down. It don’t flow at all, it [Chorus] Trickles doooooown! Son wipe that frown Doooooooooooown! All the clowns in the crowns say it Trickles down [Verse 2] Well it didn’t work, needless to say The rich got richer, the poor just paid But our man don’t care, because he’s dead Into the ground his body is laid It trickles down. (Chorus)

Stop! You don't want him You don't need him Don't play the victim cause I don't want it and I don't need it don't let me do it Stop! wake up girl cause I know just how this ends this is the time when all your heartbreak begins i know i know because I have lived what you lived at only 15 you should be with your friends You don't want him You don't need him Don't play the victim cause I don't want it and I don't need it don't let me do it You don't want him You don't need him Don't play the victim cause I don't want it and I don't need it don't let me do it Stop! Get out girl don't have to cry all your tears Save all the pride you'll lose from 10 wasted years I know I know cause I have been there before Save the girl I was from all that I'm payin for You don't want him You don't need him Don't play the victim cause I don't want it and I don't need it don't let me do it You don't want him You don't need him Don't play the victim cause I don't want it and I don't need it don't let me do it

Don't eat the 'shrooms! Don't eat the 'shrooms! Don't eat the 'shrooms! Don't eat the 'shrooms! Hahaha.

[Verse 1] Let’s keep it real Somehow I feel I am Still just a child Riding a wilder wheel A youth full of dreams The truth at the seams Streams through But it’s up to you To muse what the music means [Chorus] Keep writing songs They don't belong to you Say what you saw I know that it’s hard for you They’ll hear it all And choose what they want from you As long as they choose [Verse 2] It’s hard looking back To all that I had Stay still I know that you will But I wish I could change all that Take what you need Make it a seed Feed well And someday they’ll tell your words to your younger breeds