In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Naughty boys in nasty schools
Headmaster's breaking all the rules
Having fun and playing fools
Smashing up the woodwork tools
All the teachers in the pub
Passing 'round the ready-rub
Trying not to think of when
The lunchtime bell will ring again
Oh, what fun we had
But did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend, not break the rules
Oh, what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to
The headmaster's had enough today
All the kids have gone away
Gone to fight with next door's school
Every term, that is the rule
Sits alone and bends his cane
Same old backsides again
All the small ones tell tall tales
Walking home and squashing snails
Oh, what fun we had
But did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend, not break the rules
Oh, what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to the days
Lots of girls and lots of boys
Lots of smells and lots of noise
Playing football in the park
Kicking pushbikes after dark
Baggy trousers, dirty shirt
Pulling hair and eating dirt
Teacher comes to break it up
Back of the 'ead with a plastic cup
Oh, what fun we had
But did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend, not break the rules
Oh, what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to the days
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Headmaster's breaking all the rules
Having fun and playing fools
Smashing up the woodwork tools
All the teachers in the pub
Passing 'round the ready-rub
Trying not to think of when
The lunchtime bell will ring again
Oh, what fun we had
But did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend, not break the rules
Oh, what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to
The headmaster's had enough today
All the kids have gone away
Gone to fight with next door's school
Every term, that is the rule
Sits alone and bends his cane
Same old backsides again
All the small ones tell tall tales
Walking home and squashing snails
Oh, what fun we had
But did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend, not break the rules
Oh, what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to the days
Lots of girls and lots of boys
Lots of smells and lots of noise
Playing football in the park
Kicking pushbikes after dark
Baggy trousers, dirty shirt
Pulling hair and eating dirt
Teacher comes to break it up
Back of the 'ead with a plastic cup
Oh, what fun we had
But did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend, not break the rules
Oh, what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to the days
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Lyrics submitted by Spideygurl
Baggy Trousers Lyrics as written by Christopher John Foreman Cathal Joseph Smyth
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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in the chorus, the second "but did it really turn out bad" should be "but at the time it seemed so bad"..and "kicking pushbikes in the park" should be "kicking pushbikes after dark"...
this song kicks amazing arse! and is amazing to skank to. classic. xx