Note: I'm back! I really have to give a HUGE THANK-YOU to Chinsky and My Divinest for reviewing when they did... I mean, you all know that I really, really appreciate every single review I get, but I opened up my inbox today, and there were a bunch of reviews from you two! So thanks for getting me back into it! I'm going to finish up my Yellowcard collection, and then I think I'm ready to start working on This Time Around! Thanks so much for any patience that's left, guys!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yellowcard, their songs, lyrics or music, or the names, characters and settings of School of Rock. As well, I cannot say I own any of the other many things I make reference to in this SongFic, so darn.

WARNING: There's a fair amount of foul language in this chapter, so please, read at your own risk! OH and also, this isn't necessarily what I see happening with Freddy.. because guess what, that's who this is about! Just thought I'd let you know. Hahaaa... Okay, on with it.

Life of a Salesman

Life throws you twists and turns, and believe you me, man, you've just got to roll with the punches. I mean, I should know, shouldn't I? I've been through some tough shit, man… And it's been pretty tough, man.

See the thing is, when shit happens in your life, you remember it, right? But what if it happens when you can't remember it? Yeah, like you seriously, physically aren't able to remember. Like, when you're young. If something happens to you when you're, say, a buck and change, it's not like you'll remember it. Just like that wizard kid in the books: all he remembers of when his 'rents died is this crazy-ass green light or some screwed up shit like that, man.

Me and that Puffer, or Potter, or whatever, are pretty similar, 'cause we both lost our parents.

What's a dad for dad?

When I was crazy young… Like, three minutes old or whatever, my mom died. Yeah, I'm the little shit that killed my mom. And like I said before, I don't remember it. People say it was really sad because she was getting weaker and weaker as she was going through contractions, and she was in labour for like sixteen hours or some effed up number like that, man.

Have you seen that movie with that Bennifer guy in it? Where he has the kid and goes to live at his dad's place 'cause his girlfriend or whatever died giving birth?

Tell me why I'm here dad

That was hella like my childhood, man. My dad totally raised me from the bottom up, man. We lived at my grandma's place for a while - my mom's mom, not my dad's mom, 'cause she's dead. I can't remember, but it was probably some crazy-ass times. My dad, though… Man, I was everything to my dad… He took, like a year off work once when I broke my leg in the, like, third grade, or something. He was crazy devoted.

Whisper in my ear that I'm growing up to be a better man, dad

He sent me to that fucking prison Horace Green. He said it was so I could get the best education around, or whatever, but man, I hated that place more than I hate… something else I really hate. I was the biggest asshole, man, I totally ragged on everyone's ass. Especially Zack, man. I swear to God I had it in for that kid when we were hella young, probably 'cause I actually respected him… Who knows? Anyway, the counsellor once told my dad that my behaviour pointed me towards a lifetime of drugs and alcohol. That's some pretty heavy shit at the age of eight.

Everything is fine dad

It all got better for a bit when Finn came around, though. I stopped being a shtick to Zack and we got along pretty well, and instead Dewey taught me how to channel my excess energy into drumming. I swear to God drumming saved my life, man. And my dad was the coolest dad because when the shit hit the fan, man, he was the coolest with the idea. I mean, he thought it was effing ridiculous that Finn came and taught our asses, but he thought it was cool that I was playing drums.

Proud that you are my dad

My dad also got me out of some pretty heavy shit, man. There was this one time with Finn where School of Rock went to audition for Battle of the Bands that first time, and I went out to this band's van. A few years later, or whatever, when School of Rock was doing the auditions again, the same guys were there, and Vinny, the lead guy, well, he slipped me a number before Dewey came out to get my ass out of there.

I know, fucking ridiculous that some old freak would want to get me into that shit at age thirteen, but there you go. I was hooked on some fucking shit, I don't know, grass probably, that summer. Fucking ridiculous man.

'Cause I know I'm growing up to be a better man

Some kids are just effed up, you know? My dad found out, he's not one of those bastards that's just not aware. He whooped my ass harsh, man. Like, not for real, he didn't actually hit me. But he gave me a harsh reality check, you know? Like, he was all, 'You want me to buy you some more so you can go and overdose at age thirteen?' But I was a little shit and I thought I was crazy-ass. So my dad took me down to Tompkins Square Park down in Manhattan or wherever the hell, and holy shit, man, it was like an effing nightmare come alive.

I mean, I'm sure the people are cool, but the shit they were on was scary. Just plain scary. I was off so quick man… I mean, I was thirteen. Whoa.. Thirteen.

Taught me how to stand dad

Took me by the hand and you showed me how to be a bigger man, dad

My dad watched out for me pretty damn close after that, man. I mean, granted, I guess, I would too if my kid were punk-ass.

But then the alcohol came. Oh shit. I was a harsh punk, trying to be all hardcore. It didn't fucking work, man. One time, I came home from a party and I was still shit-faced and when my dad opened the door, I puked all over his Bills tee-shirt.

The next morning, though, he came upstairs, and he told me about how when he was a teenager, he was harsh just like me - he wanted to be the shit and he thought acting like a fool was totally it. But it got him into harsh times, man, like, eff. He was on the streets for a couple weeks until he got it together and his parents let him back home.

I mean, I respected him before, but after that my dad just became my idol.

Listen when you talk, dad
Follow where you walk, dad

I think my dad knew it, too; he knew that he was going to get my attention with that story. My dad was punk-ass when he was a kid, he wasn't joking. And maybe it's kind of pathetic when you respect your dad because he has street cred, but whatever. He knew what it was like to be a teen now, not just back in the day when he was my age. He was able to relate, man, and it's so much easier that way instead of like when your 'rents are like "it's eight, go to bed," you know?

I mean, my dad wasn't effing slacker, he just knew what I was going through. He punished in a way that didn't make me want to be all "fuck you, I'm going to do it again just to piss you off." My dad was a good dad. I want to be good for him in return, you know?

And you know that I will always do the best I can

I wish all dads could be like my dad… Like, man, that would be my charitable contribution to society, 'cause that would be crazy charitable. Everyone would be happier because of it. If and when I have a kid, I'm totally going to be a dad like my dad, man. Except my dad always told me that if my mom were alive, she'd be hella pissed at what he's been telling me. I think that's funny. Hopefully my wife's not going to be all up in my face like that, because, man, I don't care how controversial my dad's parenting methods or whatever were, because they fucking worked.

When I am a dad, dad
I'm gonna be a good dad

Like, dude, I don't know what the definition of "parent" is in the dictionary, but it's crazy more than just a biological relation or whatever. Sending your kid to their room is almost like giving up on them… Like, it's like "I don't know what to do with you, figure yourself out." Like, c'mon, man. My dad never did that.

Did the best you could, dad
Always understood, dad

Am I the only one that thought that our parents generation was totally like straight laced and like sat in their room and did homework all day? I mean, yeah man, there were the hippies, but I totally thought that all the hippie kids were called Rainbow or Raisin Flower or some shit like that. But no, man, our parents did shit, whether they tell you or not.

'Cause kids are kids are kids, man. You know that movie "Dead Poets' Society"? Yeah, man, that movie totally opened up my eyes. Guys had sex drives back then, can you effing believe it?! Holy crap, man, I was like "Whoa, they're like us!"

Tell me I was right, dad
Opened up my eyes, dad

You know, there's all these kids going around all depressed, and no one can figure it out because it's not like they're all from bad families or whatever… But maybe it's because their dad's just aren't as cool as my dad was. Maybe they don't know that other people are feeling exactly what they're feeling, man… And maybe their 'rents are being punk-ass with them, sending them to their room without trying to help at all.

My dad was no hippie, he harsh believed in punishment and consequences, but dude, I'm his kid. He helped bring me onto this god-forsaken rock, and so he was going to at least try and help me out, man. Then he'd send me to my room. Effing fair enough, man.

Glad to call you my dad
Thank you for my life dad

So, you wanna know who's influenced me the most? Hell yeah, it's harsh been my dad. He helped me realize what a crap-face I was being, man, totally. It was all him. I still remember certain moments where we were just chilling together 'cause we just respected each other, man. We both knew what the other was going through, or had gone through, or whatever.

Father I will always be

That same boy that stood by the sea

I wish Zack had a dad like mine. I mean, Zack's dad is harsh cool, but in the "rich guy that can by Zack lots of guitars" kind of way, you know? He doesn't understand like my dad understood what was going on in my life when I was thirteen and fourteen and fifteen or whatever. Or maybe, Mr. Mooneyham does, and he's just not letting on. That's not helpful, man. I mean, I love Zack like a brother, and I really wish his dad would let on that he understands or something, man.

And watched you tower over me

My dad was an engineer, okay, man? He was harsh genius, but he wasn't the type to be all "I'm smart, which must mean my kid is smart too," you know? He would have accepted it if I was stupid, and he would have partied with it, too. Except he knew I was smart, and from there I kind of realized that I had some brains as well. It would have totally been wasted if it weren't for my dad, though. So, I guess this is all for my dad. I need this life for my dad.

Now I'm older I wanna be the same as you

Although, honestly, this all would be so much cooler if he were still alive.