It was nineteen-ninety something
A day away from saving grace
I think I did some time for wearing white socks and no tie
What a dire rule for the place

Can you tell me?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me what it means to be?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me what you're trying to say?

'Cause a lot of the time
Up there in my mind
My focus and attention start to drop like a fly
There's no better way of putting it
The system is a hypocrite
Now I'm starting to believe that everything you say is a lie

Can you tell me?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me what it means to be?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me what you're trying to say?

'Cause a lot of the time
Up there in my mind
My focus and attention start to drop like a fly
There's no better way of putting it
The system is a hypocrite
I'll be considered lucky if I make it out alive

It was nineteen-ninety something
A day away from losing faith
The words they say never made sense to me
But lo and behold, I still believe
I still believe in good company
And that to me's worth something
I still believe whole-heartedly
And that is worth everything

Can you tell me?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me what it means to be?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me what you're trying to say?

'Cause a lot of the time
Up there in my mind
My focus and attention start to drop like a fly
But I still made it through the other side

It was nineteen-ninety something
It was nineteen-ninety something
(It was nineteen-ninety something)
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me what it means to be?
(It was nineteen-ninety something)
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me?
Can you tell me what it means to be?

Plastic Jesus on a shelf
Dusty bible in a corner
Taught us rules without a reason
Said: Be quiet, ask no more
We recited all the pledges
Raised our hands like we believed
But I was staring out a window
Thinking none of this was me
Thinking none of this was me
Thinking none of this was me
You weren't hiding in tradition
You were bleeding in the dirt
You were in love with your condition
You were the healing through the hurt
There is no testimony without a past we've tried to burn