Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “High School Me Would Have Been Pumped” by Joie De Vivre
The song “High School Me Would Have Been Pumped” by Joie de Vivre explores the inner-yearnings of our younger selves. The narrator recalls trying to fit in during their high school years, and to have access to something they’ve longed for for too long. At the same time, they look back with a hint of bittersweetness, wishing they could give some of the resources they have now to their younger, more naive selves to help them cope with the struggles of their younger years.
The song opens with an optimistic reminder of our younger days. “I used to walk around school hallways, looking for a scene that I could fit in”. Despite the uneasiness of having to conform, there was hope for something bigger and better than the present. The narrator identifies both the naivety of youth and the longing for something external, “high school me was blind to all the potential I had within, lost in searching for a dream outside of me”. They acknowledge that although they were looking for fulfillment from something outside, they were unaware of the power that lies within them.
Throughout the song, the narrator captures the pride of the future self looking back on the inevitable growth the person has experienced since then. “High school me would’ve been pumped to see where I am now; creating art that I’m proud of, doing things my own way”. In this moment, they not only recognize the struggles of yesterday, but also how far they’ve come.
The overall theme of this song is about nostalgia and celebration of growth. It suggests a pattern of youth striving for something else and a future self taking pride in the things achieved. It emphasizes that despite our struggles, the ultimate goal is to break away from society’s expectations and fill inner-longings by discovering our own meaning and purpose.