One of the most common high school graduation songs is Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You." This song is from 1999's "Mirrorball" album. The lyrics discuss that people will be remembered and it's important not to cry over moving on, but to cherish the memories you made. Another common graduation song is Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway." The first hit off the American Idol winner's sophomore album is about spreading your wings and moving on to bigger things in life.
"Time" by the Backstreet Boys is from their 2001 "Black and Blue" album. This song is about looking back on all the accomplishments you have made in life and how it seems to have gone by so quickly. Another song often used for high school graduation is Vitamin C's "Graduation Song." The Vitamin C hit is written especially about high school and college graduation, about the memories of this time in school and the aspirations for the future.
Nickelback's "Photograph" is an ideal selection for a high school graduation song because it depicts the story of a person flipping through photographs and remember all the stories behind the pictures. Everyone can relate to the instant when a camera is snapped at all the important moments in your life and the feeling of happy memories as you review the photos.
In 1997, Green Day's album "Nimrod" was released featuring the single "Time of Your Life." this song quickly became a commonly used song for high school graduations. The lyrics tell listeners that it's important to cherish your memories and regardless what happens in the future, hopefully it was a good time for all involved.