On Alice Cooper and Twenty First Century (Non-Schizoid) Society
Working two song references into one title - nice.
After returning from Independence Hall and other locations, it came time for the junior high graduation week/weekend, which included the awards ceremony (which I missed), the graduation itself, the class party (which, like Mary's, included taquitos), and the family party. (Which reminds me of a third song reference - "Party All The Time").
My daughter's departure from her K-8 school was different from my departure from my K-6 school. She was sentimental, realizing that even though she'll see most of her friends at high school, things wouldn't be the same. In my case, I skipped the steps (you weren't supposed to skip the steps), ran (you weren't supposed to run) across the grass (you weren't supposed to cross the grass), and...well, that was the end of my heck-raising. Although the school DID close shortly thereafter, something they blamed on "demographics."
Of course, my generation (fourth reference) was influenced by Alice Cooper (back to the first reference), who was the early 70s version of a threat to society. I graduated from elementary school the year after Cooper's School's Out LP was released. I never owned it, but I certainly heard the hit single on WEAM and similar stations. But I didn't know these song facts:
This is a fixture at Cooper's concerts. He says the difference between him and guys like Marilyn Manson is that he leaves the crowd in a good mood. His shows are meant to be fun, not depressing.
The chorus of children who sing on this was put together by producer Bob Ezrin. In 1979, Ezrin used another kid's chorus when he produced "Another Brick In The Wall" for Pink Floyd. He liked the idea of hearing children's voices on songs about school.
And, for those who have never heard the song, here are the lyrics. '
Well we got no choice
All the girls and boys
Makin all that noise
'Cause they found new toys
Well we can't salute ya
Can't find a flag
If that don't suit ya
That's a drag
School's out for summer
School's out forever
School's been blown to pieces
No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks
Well we got no class
And we got no principles
And we got no innocence
We can't even think of a word that rhymes
School's out for summer
School's out forever
School's been blown to pieces
No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks
Out for summer
Out till fall
We might not go back at all
School's out forever
School's out for summer
School's out with fever
School's out completely
While Alice was flipping off authority through the entire song, he saved his deadliest blow for the music industry when he dared to say, "We can't even think of a word that rhymes." (And Cooper, unlike many people today, clearly understands the difference between the words "principle" and "principal." Nice touch.)
And no, I have no idea what King Crimson has to do with the end of school. That reference was a throwaway, as was the fourth reference (Who?). So, for those keeping track, only the odd references make sense.
I need to take a trip.
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