I think I'm going back to school
'Cause I'm tired of being a fool
And I'm tired of playing it cool
I think I'm going back to school
I never understood the weather man
I never understood the moon
Why don't you pour me out a glass of wine
Why don't you pour me out

In the days before America
In the days before priests
In the days before Rolling Stones
In the days before speech
Everybody hates the President
Everybody loves the Queen
Break the planes and close the planet down
Why don't you break with me

I think I'm going out of style
I think I've known it for a while
I think I've known it with a smile
I think I'm going home


Lyrics submitted by BrownBabu84

Never Understood Lyrics as written by William Adam Reid Billy Reid

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY

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Never Understood song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    Very important song. The Mary Chain hadn't had critical success for a few years, and were about to break up. "I think I'm going out of style I think I've known it for a while I think I've known it with a smile I think I'm going home..." Its William acknowledging that his best days are behind him, and coming to terms with it.

    Jestoon425on December 08, 2013   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    "I think I'm going back to school 'Cause I'm tired of being a fool And I'm tired of playing it cool I think I'm going back to school" I think this is talking about how he longs for the past before he felt like a "fool" back to when William and Jim didn't hate each other and back before they even became succesful.

    "In the days before America" I think William is talking about before they were successful enough to make it too america.

    "In the days before priests" Talking about in a cryptic sense before their band because the band ha a constant reoccurring joke or theme with Jesus and Christianity hence their name and if you look at songs like Jesus Fuck, Reverence, etc.

    "In the days before Rolling Stones" I think this is talking about before they become too ambitious and when they were just some friends making music, because they have said in interviews they've wanted to be more successful then the rolling stones. So saying before we got super ambitious

    "Everybody hates the President Everybody loves the Queen Break the planes and close the planet down Why don't you break with me" I'm not exactly sure but i'm guessing this is another reference to how they despised america (maybe as a symbol of their fame) and long for the days back in the UK, and he doesn't want to travel anymore he just want to be done hence breaking the planes.

    "I think I'm going out of style I think I've known it for a while I think I've known it with a smile I think I'm going home" This is about how he realizes that its all falling apart around him the band hasn't been very successful for awhile, William and Jim hate each other and the band is about to split, but instead of a terribly sad tone about it. William is happy because if you look to his song "Darklands" which is about how William has to go and stay in the 'darklands' a depressed state of misery to write good music and how he sacrifices his well being for his art. He is now happy that he gets to go settle down with his family and doesn't have to remain in his depressed state he can allow himself to be happy.

    honeyfeelson June 16, 2017   Link

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