Belligerent ghouls
Run Manchester schools

Spineless swines
Cemented minds

Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old suit since nineteen sixty two

He does the military two-step down
The nape of my neck

I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up education
As a bad mistake

Mid-week on the playing fields
Sir thwacks you on the knees

Knees you in the groin
Elbow in the face
Bruises bigger than dinner plates

I want to go home
I don't want to stay

Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da

Belligerent ghouls
Run Manchester schools

Spineless bastards all

Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old jokes since nineteen- oh- two

He does the military two-step down
The nape of my neck

I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up life
As a bad mistake

Please excuse me from gym
I've got this terrible cold coming on
He grabs and devours
He kicks me in the showers
Kicks me in the showers
And he grabs and devours

I want to go home
I don't want to stay


Lyrics submitted by Idan

The Headmaster Ritual Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Universal Music Publishing Ltd, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE

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The Headmaster Ritual song meanings
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  • +3
    General Comment

    my brother attended a birmingham school in the seventies; abuse was rife. he'd come home with tales i can tell you. the one that sticks in my mind is of the 1st form (grade 7) history teacher with a man's size 13 shoe that he called 'the persuader.'

    clareakon January 10, 2011   Link

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