Song: “Check the Boxes”
As The Pledge opens, Jamie Price is filling out his college application forms and essays – all he has to do is “Check the Boxes” — and get accepted — and then all the pieces of his life will fall into place, if the stress doesn’t kill him first!
Vocals: Jacob Sutherland sings Jamie and all the backup voices.
"Check the Boxes"
Lyrics for “Check the Boxes”
JAMIE
(Sings)
JUST TELL ME WHICH BOX TO CHECK
TO GET EVERYTHING I NEED
IF I SCREW UP, THEN IT’S MY NECK,
BUT IF I GET THIS RIGHT
I MIGHT JUST SUCCEED
THERE’S APPLICATION A AND ESSAY B
AND FINANCIAL FORMS THAT ARE KILLING ME
THERE ARE YESES AND NOS THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK
AND YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE ONE MISTAKE
(The entire Company appears and chimes in along with JAMIE.)
JAMIE & COMPANY
SO YOU KEEP CHECKING BOXES
AT LEAST THE ONES THAT APPLY
YOU PLOW THROUGH ALL THE BOXES
AND YOU KIND OF SHOULD NOT LIE
JUST GET THROUGH ALL THE BOXES
IT’S A GAME YOU CANNOT WIN
ALL THESE LITTLE, FRIGGIN’ BOXES
DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU’LL GET IN?
YOU CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
AND PUT YOURSELF ON THE LINE
YOU CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
AND HOPE THAT YOU’LL BE FINE
EVEN IF YOU DON’T FEEL FINE…
JAMIE
THERE’S A BOX FOR EARLY DECISION AND YOUR LEGAL SEX
AND HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SUSPENDED OR REMOVED
YOUR LIFE IS ALL ABOUT MAKING CHECKS
AND WHEN YOU’RE DONE WHAT HAVE YOU PROVED?
YOU’VE GOT TO CHECK THE BOXES
TO GET A CHANCE TO GET AHEAD
IF YOU DON’T CHECK THE BOXES
YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD
CHECK THE BOX FOR THE SCHOOL ’CUZ THAT’S PART OF THE PLAN
CHECK THE BOX FOR THE GIRL TO SHOW YOU’RE A MAN
CHECK THE BOX FOR THE FRAT ’CUZ YOU HAVE TO BELONG
IT’S OKAY TO GUESS UNLESS YOU GUESS WRONG.
JAMIE & COMPANY
YOU CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
AND PUT YOURSELF ON THE LINE
YOU CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
AND HOPE THAT YOU’LL BE FINE
EVEN IF YOU DON’T FEEL FINE…
JAMIE
DON’T LEAVE A SINGLE BOX UNCHECKED
ONE WRONG MOVE AND YOUR LIFE IS WRECKED
BUCK UP AND FIGURE OUT
WHAT THIS SHIT IS ALL ABOUT
YOU MUST NOT FAIL TO CONCENTRATE
TIME’S ALMOST OUT AND YOU CAN’T BE LATE.
YOU’VE GOT TO FOCUS ON YOUR GOAL
BUT HOW CAN YOU BE IN CONTROL
WHEN NOTHING SEEMS IN YOUR CONTROL…?
JAMIE & COMPANY
SO YOU CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
TIL YOU SEE THAT YOU ARE THROUGH
YOU CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
THOUGH YOU HAVEN’T GOT A CLUE
CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
AND LET THE GAMES BEGIN
CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
CHECK, CHECK THE BOXES
AND HOPE THAT YOU GET IN!
“Check the Boxes” © The Pledge book and lyrics by Mark Evan Chimsky, Music by Zev Burrows
