45 Grave was a punk rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. Th… Read Full Bio ↴45 Grave was a punk rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The original lineup consisted of Dinah Cancer on vocals, Paul Cutler on guitar, Rob Ritter (also known as Rob Graves) on bass, and Don Bolles of the Germs on drums. The band evolved out of a proto-industrial music band called Vox Pop, who recorded two singles and played around the Los Angeles area, including an opening slot for the final performance of Throbbing Gristle in Culver City. Vox Pop contained all of the members of 45 Grave as well as others such as Jeff Dahl. Vox Pop continued to coexist with 45 Grave until early 1981.

They created their own hybrid subgenre of horror punk and gothic rock which would later come to be known as "deathrock."

In 2004, to commemorate its 25th anniversary, 45 Grave reformed with an all new lineup, Dinah Cancer being the single remaining member from any previous incarnations. The band, however, has the blessing of the ex-members. Dinah Cancer posted on her MySpace blog, "I'm building this to keep the spirit of 45 Grave alive, introduce its magic to new fans, and as a personal commemorative of my best memories being the driving force and front person of 45 Grave. This is a part of my life that indeed changed me forever."

In 2010, “Night of the Demons”, a remake of the classic 1988 cult horror film, was released featuring 45 Grave's title track. A soundtrack CD including Concrete Blonde and Type O Negative will be released in 2011. The song "Night of the Demons" will be on 45 Grave's upcoming EP, which should be released in 2011.

School's Out
45 Grave Lyrics

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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 yeah
Well we got no class
And we got no principals
And we got no innocence
We can't even think of a word that rhymes
School's out for summer
School's out forever
My 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 come back at all
School's out forever
School's out for summer

School's out with fever
School's out completely

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 45 Grave's song School's Out are a reflection on the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation. The writer suggests that the students are making a lot of noise and causing chaos because they have new games and toys to play with. The line "we can't salute ya can't find a flag" implies a sense of independence and rebellion among the students who don't feel the need to follow the status quo. The phrase "that's a drag" suggests that it's not something that appeals to everyone but it's the reality.

The second verse suggests that the students are relieved to be out of school and away from their teachers. The phrase "no more pencils, no more books" implies that they are done with studying and homework, and are ready to enjoy their summer break. They are free to do as they please, without any authority figures telling them what to do. The line "we can't even think of a word that rhymes" suggests that they are so liberated that they don't even feel the need to conform to the usual writing styles they were taught in school.

In the chorus, the singers repeat the phrase "School's out for summer" several times, emphasizing the joyous feeling that comes with being out of school. The line "out till fall, we might not come back at all" suggests that the students are looking forward to an extended vacation, and are not sure if they want to return to school when it starts up again.

Line by Line Meaning

Well we got no choice
There is nothing we can do about it

All the girls and boys
All students, regardless of gender

Makin' all that noise
Being loud and disruptive

'Cause they found new toys
Because they have new things to occupy their attention

Well we can't salute ya can't find a flag
We cannot show loyalty because there is no reason to be loyal

If that don't suit ya that's a drag
If you are not happy with the situation, that is unfortunate

School's out for summer
The summer break has begun

School's out forever
School is over permanently

School's been blown to pieces
School has been destroyed or fallen apart

No more pencils no more books
There will be no more studying

No more teacher's dirty looks yeah
There will be no more judgement or disapproval from teachers