Saturday Morning
Danny O'Keefe Lyrics


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O'Keefe

When I was a kind I used to go to school
Tried to treat everybody right and live by the golden rule
Now I've gotten to be a man I find the rules don't work
Try to treat everybody straight they take you for a jerk

It's Saturday Morning
And there's no school today

Maybe you got the answer, there's no question anymore
If you don't know whose side you're on you ain't been keepin' score
Hey, what's happenin', Baby? Go ask Old Mr. Jones
Cuz he's been lock-and-loadin' while you been rollin' stones

And it's Saturday Morning
And there's no school today

Baby, I ain't the doctor and there ain't nothin' I can do
But the medicine you've been takin' ain't no good for you




You'd better listen to me, get hip to what it's about
Cuz it's already Saturday morning and school has just let out

Overall Meaning

The song "Saturday Morning" by Danny O'Keefe is a reflection on the disillusionment that comes with growing up and realizing that the rules and morals one was taught as a child don't always hold up in the real world. O'Keefe contrasts his idealistic childhood self, who tried to follow the "golden rule" and treat everybody fairly, with his adult self, who has found that such actions are often taken advantage of. The lyrics suggest that the world is not as simple as we once believed, and that determining "whose side" we are on requires a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of life.


The chorus, "It's Saturday Morning and there's no school today," reinforces the idea of a loss of innocence, as Saturday mornings were once associated with the carefree joy of weekends and time off from school, while now they serve as a reminder that the responsibilities and realities of adulthood are always present. The song also contains a warning to the listener about the dangers of blindly following authority figures or taking medication without question, implying that critical thinking and self-reflection are key to navigating the complexities of the world.


Overall, "Saturday Morning" is a poignant and introspective song that speaks to the universal experience of growing up and realizing that life is not as straightforward as we once thought.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was a kind I used to go to school
During my childhood, schooling was a regular part of life


Tried to treat everybody right and live by the golden rule
I made an effort to maintain good behavior and follow the morality of treating others how I would like to be treated


Now I've gotten to be a man I find the rules don't work
As I've matured, I've come to realize that abiding by this morality doesn't guarantee good treatment in return


Try to treat everybody straight they take you for a jerk
Even when I am honest and true to my values, some people still view me negatively


It's Saturday Morning
The day is Saturday, which signals freedom from regular routines such as school


And there's no school today
School is not in session for the day


Maybe you got the answer, there's no question anymore
You may believe that you have all the knowledge and understanding you need, but you have stopped asking questions to gain more insight


If you don't know whose side you're on you ain't been keepin' score
If you don't know your own beliefs and values, you haven't been reflecting on your past experiences and what they indicate about your character


Hey, what's happenin', Baby? Go ask Old Mr. Jones
You may be unsure about what's going on in the world, so seek guidance from an experienced person like Mr. Jones


Cuz he's been lock-and-loadin' while you been rollin' stones
While you have been idle or oblivious, Mr. Jones has been actively preparing and taking action


And it's Saturday Morning
The day is still Saturday morning


And there's no school today
School is still not in session


Baby, I ain't the doctor and there ain't nothin' I can do
I cannot physically heal you like a doctor, and I have limited power to help you


But the medicine you've been takin' ain't no good for you
The actions or habits you have been relying on are not actually helpful or healthy for you


You'd better listen to me, get hip to what it's about
You should pay attention to my advice and become more knowledgeable about the situation


Cuz it's already Saturday morning and school has just let out
The fact that it's still Saturday morning and school has only just let out emphasizes the immediacy and importance of the issue




Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Southern Style


on Shooting Star

Southern Style

I appreciate your posting the lyrics to this song, however I don't think the lyrics shown in the second verse were the lyrics penned by O'Keefe. I know every Lyric site shows it as presented here but as this is a song about unrequited love I feel it necessary to try to define the word "Electra"/"Elektra" which, at one point in time, referred to "pre-dawn"; Think sun rays coming over the horizon prior to sunrise. So what you have, in effect, is "morning waiting for Elektra but Elektra is mourning for the NIGHT". There is your unrequited love; Morning loves Elektra but Elektra loves Night.

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