I was that kid sittin' over in the corner Smiling with a shit-eating grin And I was that kid smilin' In the back of class 'Cause I'm flyin' on mescaline I was that kid drinkin' 40's on the bleachers Getting drunk after school Gettin' home too late, fallin' on my face Way too drunk to skate And actin' a fool I was that kid never doing good at Nothing except for maybe at P.E. And I was that kid getting bullied by the Filipinos rollin' with ABT Me and my friends reading The Satanic Bible, thinking we should start a band Cutting class to jam, cutting class to jam In my dad's garage we learned to Act a fool - don't need to be cool Pissed off too and breaking the rules Mama told me stay in school Don't rock 'n roll But this is my American high I was that kid prank-calling your girlfriend Couldn't get a goddamn date And I was that kid that was Getting hella busted for pissin' on the bart train I fuckin' hated school, except for hanging out with my friends The outcast that was startin' up a band Fremont was the town, California-bound Bay area sound, taught me to Act a fool - don't need to be cool Pissed off too and breaking the rules Mama told me stay in school Don't rock 'n roll But this is my American high I'm that kid you tried to punk in English class Now I'm in a band and your kissin' my ass Asteroids beat out homework Slayer beat out Zeppelin Not the sharpest noggin That's why I'm in this band And what you got against me, I don't need a new job What you got against me, I'll get by on my own Tellin' me I'm never gettin' by from songs I love it when you're proven wrong Act a fool - don't need to be cool Pissed off too and breaking the rules Mama told me stay in school Don't rock 'n roll But this is my American high Act a fool - don't need to be cool Break the rules 'Cause this is my American high