Boydie suggested I do a lyric review of Mary of the 4th Form by the Boomtown Rats as a contrast to the Police's Don't Stand So Close to Me.
Here's the Don't Stand So Close thread:
http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=11666.0I found the Police lyrics clever but cold. They didn't do anything for me as can be seen frrom my contributions.
This is the Boomtown Rats song Mary of the 4th Form
Sittin' in the front row
Mary of the fourth form
Turnin' all the boys down
She's turnin' all their heads around
Hitchin' up her short skirt
Stretchin' out her long legs
Pullin' up her stockings
She's combing out her black hair
Starin' at the teacher
Openin' her lips wide
Shiftin' in her seat. Yeah,
She slowly moves her hips aside
But in the middle of the night
She wakes her Mom to turn out the light
Her make-up's on and her jeans are skin tight
And she's heading to the Pillar Bar
Johnnie looks alright tonight she thinks
He gives her a smoke and he buys her a drink
He shoots a frame and they head off into the night.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Teacher's losing control
Thankfully the bell rings
Mary's left all alone
With no one but the teacher
She quickly drops her pencil
And slowly bends to get it
Teacher is a natural man
His hand moves out to touch her
She straightens and looks around, yeah
She laughs and leaves the room, yeah
Heartbreak for the teacher
Sweet dreams for young Mary
But in the middle of the night
She wakes her Dad to turn out the light
Her make-up's on and her jeans are skin tight
And she's headed to the Pillar Bar
Johnnie looks great tonight, she thinks
He gives her a smoke and he buys her a drink
Shoots a frame and they head off into the night.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
So why do I think its a better song.
First the school girl has a name. You also know her age roughly. In the 70s the fourth form was for 14 and 15 year olds.
Second the lyrics show you that she's attractive and she knows it. They also show that contradiction between being 14 and 15 and wanting to be an adult and still wanting to feel safe with your parents. The "turn out the lights part"
Johnnie is her link to the adult world that beckons.
The song provides a pen picture of Mary's life as well as the lust the teacher feels towards her.
From the age of 14 I tried to get served in pubs, sometimes successful, sometimes not. It was always easier for females in my class to go out drinking around town. I wasn't aware of any illicit relationships between teachers and pupils. The Boomtown Rats song is more in keeping with my experiences growing up.
The Police song on the other hand is a simple statement of fact. The teacher is having sex in his car with somebody half his age and there is plenty of gossip about the affair. The lyrics don't show any love or lust in the relationship, its like reading a court report in the London Times.
Finally, the music is better, in my opinion.
Keith