Top Ten High School Graduation Songs

To start off your graduation 2009 celebration, you might want to start off with a few slow numbers to reflect on the last twelve years of your life (assuming you didn't graduate early or take longer). As you embark on an exciting new chapter in your life, it would serve you well to take a quick look back, then work your way up to the more celebratory songs for your high school graduation.

Some of these songs have been around a long time before 2009 high school graduates were even born. Nevertheless, as George Santayana once said "those who don't remember history are condemned to repeat it." With that in mind, how about a little roots rock to celebrate your high school graduation? This list contains a little old, and a little new, eclectic song mix to celebrate one of the most exciting accomplishments in your young lives.

I may be an old fart now, but I haven't forgotten what it was like. As Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day put it so aptly, it's a "turning point, a fork stuck in the road", so to quote Yogi Berra, "when you come to a fork in the road, take it"... Here's my Top 10 list of high school graduation songs for 2009, or any subsequent year, for that matter.

Starting slowly, a great opener for your high school graduation celebration could be George Benson's The Greatest Love Of All. Yes, I know about Whitney Houston's famous cover of this song, but I've never been a fan of hers and she needs to follow the advice in the song. Benson's original version for the soundtrack of The Greatest, the story of Muhammad Ali, is far superior, in my opinion.

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadow, if I fail, if I succeed, at least I went as I believe...

For another mellow 70's song, try Billy Joel's This Is the Time To Remember, 'cause it will not last forever, these are the days to hold onto, 'cause we won't although we want to...

Before becoming Yusuf Islam, the British singer once known as Cat Stevens had a song, Remember The Days Of The Old School Yard. Remember the days of the old school yard, we used to laugh a lot. This song was on the radio as my oldest nephew was starting first grade. Now he has kids of his own. Time marches on and so does the countdown.

For a more contemporary sound for your high school graduation celebration, how about Nickelback's Photograph? Even though there is a line in the song in which Chad Kroeger wonders if it's too late to go back and graduate, Photograph is still an appropriate song for remembering school days. Look at this photograph, every time I do it makes me laugh, how did our eyes get so red, what the hell is that on Joey's head? Is that not a dead on look back at high school days?

Now, it's time to ramp things up a bit with Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds. This song became famous in the 80's film The Breakfast Club about high schoolers in a saturday study hall. The line will you recognize me, call my name or walk on by is an example of what happens when years go by and classmates grow apart.

With the class of 2009's high school graduation looming, high school seniors are approaching that fork in the road spoken of in Green Day's Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life). So take the photograph and still frame in your mind, hang it on a shelf in good health and good time. The final days of high school can be bittersweet and the future is a little scary, but put it out of your mind long enough to celebrate your high school graduation, please!

Now, it's time to turn up the volume a bit on your high school graduation celebration with School's Out by Alice Cooper. The 70's shock rocker whose real name was Vincent Fournier summed up the feelings of so many students perfectly, growling: well, we can't salute ya', can't find a flag, if that don't suit ya, that's a drag! School's out for summer! After 12 years of school, surely you can relate to that whether or not you're bound for college...

For another high school graduation song for graduation 2009 consider another Alice Cooper selection from the 70's I'm 18. This is an anthem for young American males who aren't quite sure what to do with their lives yet. Lines form on my face and hands, lines from from the ups and downs, I'm in the middle without any plans, I'm a boy and I'm a man.

Hopefully any young men reading this have a good plan and stick to it. If not, there's still time to get things together. It's no disgrace to take a year and plot your next move if you're not sure.

As much as I think college is the best option for most young people who have the opportunity, college is not for everyone. Some have career options and are just looking to put the whole school scene in the rearview mirror. No Such Thing by John Mayer makes a good high school graduation song in that vein.

Well, I never lived the dreams of the Prom King and the Drama Queen, I'd like to think the best of me is still hiding up my sleeve..The song goes on to talk of running through the halls of the old high school and "busting down the double doors." Not every student can do what Mayer has done, the odds are long, but it is admirable just the same.

For the final number of your high school graduation celebration, what better song is there for the occasion than the recently wed Natasha Bedingfield's Unwritten? Before you dismiss this tune as bubble gum, listen and pay attention to the lyrics. This song epitomizes the opportunity lying in wait for high school graduates in particular.

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined, I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned, staring at the blank page before you, open up the dirty windows, let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find, reaching for something in the distance, so close you can almost taste it, release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin.

I can especially relate to the line I break tradition, sometimes my tries are outside the lines, we've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way. Words of wisdom coming from such a young woman. 2009 high school graduates can find much to take away from this song as they prepare to go off to college, or out into the work a day world.

These songs can be found for listening or to download at: http://www.last.fm/