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We Rule the School Lyrics
On a beech tree rudely carved
Nc was here
Why did she do it?
Was she scared or sad?
On a beech tree rudely carved
Nc loved me
Why did she do it?
Was she bored, or pushed
Do something pretty while you can
Don't be a fool
Reading the gospel to yourself is fine
Do something pretty while you can
Don't be afraid
Skating a pirouette on ice is cool
On a bus stop in the town
"We rule the school"
Written for everyone to see and read
On a bus stop in the town
"We rule the school"
Written for everyone with eyes in their head
Do something pretty while you can
Don't fall asleep
Driving from California to new york
Call me a prophet if you like
It's no secret
You know the world is made for men
You know the world is made for men
You know the world is made for men
Not us
Nc was here
Why did she do it?
Was she scared or sad?
Nc loved me
Why did she do it?
Was she bored, or pushed
Don't be a fool
Reading the gospel to yourself is fine
Don't be afraid
Skating a pirouette on ice is cool
"We rule the school"
Written for everyone to see and read
"We rule the school"
Written for everyone with eyes in their head
Don't fall asleep
Driving from California to new york
It's no secret
You know the world is made for men
You know the world is made for men
You know the world is made for men
Not us
Song Info
Submitted by
girlboyrevolt On May 06, 2005
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I think by "You know the world was made for men" he meant that the world is made for tough, dominant, often artless people who focus on the practical side of life. Those are they who get the most power and attention in the world. They often don't care for or appreciate the tiny yet beautiful things in life- such as pirouettes on ice, or graffiti on a beech tree.
Love this song.
I love this song because its about noticing all the little marks of graffiti that are everywhere and wondering what happened to these people or why they felt the need to record their thoughts. Than the song urges you to do something with your life, it doesn't have to be anything big but leave your mark even if it seems insignificant like carving your name in a tree.
I agree with you, mcooney. The song is about leaving your impression on the world. The reflective lines at the beginning seem to be incredibly moving without even meaning to be. The listener, as well as Murdoch himself, wonders who "NC" is. As "NC" is no-one in the band (I base this on the fact that no band members have these initials), this impression in a tree is supposedly unrelated to Murdoch; he is simply viewing it and wondering the history behind it. This appears to inspire some sense profundity in Murdoch, as he decides to write a song telling us...
I agree with you, mcooney. The song is about leaving your impression on the world. The reflective lines at the beginning seem to be incredibly moving without even meaning to be. The listener, as well as Murdoch himself, wonders who "NC" is. As "NC" is no-one in the band (I base this on the fact that no band members have these initials), this impression in a tree is supposedly unrelated to Murdoch; he is simply viewing it and wondering the history behind it. This appears to inspire some sense profundity in Murdoch, as he decides to write a song telling us to replicate this and make our mark on the world ourselves.
One of Belle and Sebastian's greatest songs - Tigermilk, If You're Feeling Sinister, and The Boy With the Arab Strap are, in my opinion, their greatest albums. I wished they still wrote songs like that!
I love this song, it's just so pretty!
could "don't fall asleep" mean taking your own life? or just dozing off while travelling maybe
It's about tenneaged girls and how they have a freedom in high school that they don't get afterwards. It's a man's world out there, so they should "do something pretty while they can". Fear, boredom, peer pressure, all the things that push one away from "reading the gospel to yourself" seem worth giving in to. They're only there for a limited time. Reading the gospel to yourself is fine, but it sounds disappointing compared to driving from Cali to NY, doesn't it?
I think that's what the song suggests. Live. Leave a mark that only makes sense to you. Be good later, you're free and young and can do beautiful things with that.
great song. that background music of violin i think? sounds like pachabel's canon
It is based on Pachabel's Canon. "Do something pretty while you can" are good words to live by.
This song is about the artistic/sensitive class of people coexisting with the gruff, primal people.
Suicide is presented in the first to stanzas - the difficulties of an artistic/sensitive person dealing with an often cruel, selfish world. The line "was she pushed?" sets up the song for this tension with other types of people who are thicker-skinned and less reflective/artistic.
The next two stanzas are about having the courage to be yourself - to do things even if you don't fit in with others.
"We Rule the School" on the bus stop was metaphorically written by men - those without sensitivity who grab what they please.
The last stanza is self-explanatory.
As always, just my opinion.
I'm pretty sure that the lyrics are; "Why did she do it? Was she scared? Was she bored?" And then "Was she scared? Was she pushed?" Not "was she scared, or sad" and "was she bored or pushed" Also, the skating a pirouette on ice and the gospel verses should be reversed. (Skating comes first in the song.)