Baggy Trousers

Album: Absolutely (1980)
Charted: 3
Play Video
  • Naughty boys in nasty schools
    Headmaster's breaking all the rules
    Having fun and playing fools
    Smashing up the woodwork tools
    All the teachers in the pub
    Passing 'round the ready-rub
    Trying not to think of when
    The lunchtime bell will ring again

    Oh, what fun we had
    But did it really turn out bad
    All I learnt at school
    Was how to bend, not break the rules
    Oh, what fun we had
    But at the time it seemed so bad
    Trying different ways
    To make a difference to

    The headmaster's had enough today
    All the kids have gone away
    Gone to fight with next door's school
    Every term, that is the rule
    Sits alone and bends his cane
    Same old backsides again
    All the small ones tell tall tales
    Walking home and squashing snails

    Oh, what fun we had
    But did it really turn out bad
    All I learnt at school
    Was how to bend, not break the rules
    Oh, what fun we had
    But at the time it seemed so bad
    Trying different ways
    To make a difference to the days

    Lots of girls and lots of boys
    Lots of smells and lots of noise
    Playing football in the park
    Kicking pushbikes after dark
    Baggy trousers, dirty shirt
    Pulling hair and eating dirt
    Teacher comes to break it up
    Back of the 'ead with a plastic cup

    Oh, what fun we had
    But did it really turn out bad
    All I learnt at school
    Was how to bend, not break the rules
    Oh, what fun we had
    But at the time it seemed so bad
    Trying different ways
    To make a difference to the days

    Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
    Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
    Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
    Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
    Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers Writer/s: Cathal Joseph Smyth, Christopher John Foreman, Daniel Mark Woodgate, Graham McPherson, Lee Jay Thompson, Mark William Bedford, Michael Barson
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Sam Turner from ManchesterThe school is actually called Kentish Town Church of England Primary School. The teachers used to get very annoyed when people called it Islip Street.
  • Luke from Manchester, UkThe wire was deliberately deliberate. That's the beauty of Madness.
  • Alistair from Daventry, United KingdomThe wire is so obvious I think it must have been deliberate as a nod to the Genesis incident already referred to - neat.
  • Louise from Newcastle, United KingdomThis is a great song- much better than Another Brick in the Wall, in my opinion.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."