School Days - Chuck Berry
Early doors, Chuck Berry summed it all up with his description of how dismal school was in 1950's America. Berry is often only seen as one of the inventors and greatest pioneers of rock and roll, but his ability to detail the life of America's youth is often overlooked. Here he nails the school day in its constricting detail:
"Up in the mornin' and out to school The teacher is teachin' the Golden Rule American history and practical math You studyin' hard and hopin' to pass Workin' your fingers right down to the bone And the guy behind you won't leave you alone
Ring, ring goes the bell The cook in the lunch room's ready to sell You're lucky if you can find a seat You're fortunate if you have time to eat Back in the classroom, open your books Keep up the teacher don't know how mean she looks
Soon as three o'clock rolls around You finally lay your burden down Close up your books, get out of your seat Down the halls and into the street Up to the corner and 'round the bend Right to the juke joint, you go in...."
until the release at the end of the day when he / she runs to the "juke joint" drops
"....the coin right into the slot You're gotta hear something that's really hot With the one you love, you're makin' romance All day long you been wantin' to dance, Feeling the music from head to toe Round and round and round we go
Hail, hail rock and roll
Deliver me from the days of old Long live rock and roll The beat of the drums, loud and bold Rock, rock, rock and roll The feeling is there, body and soul."
"The feeling is there body and soul", the point being that this is not what they were getting in ordinary state schools then in America. Or now in the UK which is surely the best route to learning. Educationalists and politicians please note.