The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
In the sleepy west ofthe woody east
is a valley full, full o' pioneer
we're not just kids, to say the least
we got ideas to us that's dear
like capitalist, like communist
like lots of things you've heard about
and redneckers they get us pissed
and stupid stuff it makes us shout
oh dance with me oh don't be shy
oh kissme cunt and kiss me cock
oh kiss the world oh kiss the sky
oh kiss my ass oh let it rock
of the april birds and the may bee
oh baby
university
of massachusetts, please
and here's the last five
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational.
is a valley full, full o' pioneer
we're not just kids, to say the least
we got ideas to us that's dear
like capitalist, like communist
like lots of things you've heard about
and redneckers they get us pissed
and stupid stuff it makes us shout
oh dance with me oh don't be shy
oh kissme cunt and kiss me cock
oh kiss the world oh kiss the sky
oh kiss my ass oh let it rock
of the april birds and the may bee
oh baby
university
of massachusetts, please
and here's the last five
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational.
Lyrics submitted by riffic
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hes just commenting on the flaws of the education system. frank black was born in massachussets and im assuming he developed some qualms. and by saying its educational hes saying "yeah right my ass it is"
I think hes trying to be sarcastic, like its educational, when really going to colege probably wasnt that big of a deal to him...
Great song, but the riff is the Clash all the way.
Is it just me of did teen spirit rip this riff off? Or did the pixies maybe also rip off more then a feeling? Ah hard to say but the pixies isn't as tedious as teen spirit that thing way over played.
Kobain always said he wrote 'Teen Spirit' trying to write a Pixies song. More speciffically, he mentions Gouge Away as an influence, and listening to the two back to back you can definetly tell.
yea, its the quiet, bass driven verse meets the loud, guitar driven chorus. that was the basis of their sound and bands are always trying to copy that sound.
"university of masachusets" okay i feel like a ditz but didnt some big historical event happen here? did that have anything to do with the songs meaning?
its a little obvious now that ive read the lyrics, but worth pointing out for those who dont catch it right away. the song name, u-mass, is short for university of massachusetts. i never knew what the song name meant until now.
well Frank went to U-Mass and i think its a song all about 'the kids'. Its pretty sappy when you think about it... 'we're not just kids, to say the least, we got ideas to us that's dear' Its just seems totally like "the kids aren't as stupid as you think, man".
Pretty simple when you just read the lyrics...
oh and this isn't the one teen spirit was ripped off, it was 'debaser'. Cobain said he was 'trying to write the perfect pop song' and he was always concerned about sounding too much like the pixies. I wouldn't say 'ripped off' either because we all emulate those we admire, and who better than the pixies?