17. The Headmaster Ritual

Song:  "The Headmaster Ritual"
Artist:  The Smiths
Album:  Meat is Murder
Year:  1984
Length:  4:52
Label:  Rough Trade/Sire Records

• Download The Smiths - "The Headmaster Ritual".mp3

Meat is Murder is my favorite album of all-time, and this song is the first of two tracks from the album that make into my top 20.  It's the opening track off the album, a brilliant lyrical depiction of difficulties at an English boarding school, which are certainly valid in any teenager's life.  It feels a little dated, but meant a lot to me when I was a high schooler, and the song's warped view of the evils of authority is certainly something that tracks closely to my own world view, even much later in life.  And who the hell else could pull off a line like "belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools" other than Morrissey?  I mean, does any American Idol winner even know what the fuck belligerent means?  Like I'm "belligerent" just thinking about the state of popular American music today.  Ugh.  This here is music at its finest.

#17 Favorite Song All Time

Belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools
Spineless swines, cemented minds
Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old suit since 1962
He does the military two-step
Down the nape of my neck

I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up education
As a bad mistake

Mid-week on the playing fields
Sir thwacks you on the knees
Knees you in the groin
Elbow in the face
Bruises bigger than dinner plates

I want to go home
I don't want to stay

Belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools
Spineless bastards all ...
Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old jokes since 1902
He does the military two-step
Down the nape of my neck

I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up life
As a bad mistake

Please excuse me from gym
I've got this terrible cold coming on
He grabs and devours
He kicks me in the showers
Kicks me in the showers
And he grabs and devours

I want to go home
I don't want to stay...

Comments

[Switsky]

I cannot believe you put a funny topical post up here. I was so excited we were getting closer to the #1 song. Now I will have to wait at least one more day before we get there. Please Bill no more good funny posts. Get to # 1 already so my curiosity will end already.