By the time he was 12 (1952), Avalon began making appearances on U.S. television for his trumpet prowess, and as a teenager, played with Bobby Rydell in a band known as Rocco and the Saints. In 1959, his songs "Venus" and "Why?" both went to number one on Billboard magazine's Hot 100. Indeed, "Why" was the last #1 hit of the 1950s.
During the 1960s, Avalon became known for his roles in the Beach Party film genre. Later, he became the U.S. national television spokesperson for Sonic Drive-In.
Beauty School Dropout
Frankie Avalon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A teenage ne'er do well
Most mixed up non-delinquent on the block
Your future's so unclear now
What's left of your career now?
Can't even get a trade in on your smock
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la la
Beauty school dropout
No graduation day for you
Beauty school dropout
Missed your mid-terms and flunked shampoo
Well, at least you could have taken time
To wash and clean your clothes up
After spending all that dough
To have the doctor fix your nose up
Baby, get movin'(better get movin')
Why keep your feeble hopes alive?
What are you provin'? (What are you provin')
You've got the dream but not the drive
If you go for your diploma, you could join a steno pool
Turn in your teasin' comb and go back to high school (la la la la la)
La la la la
La la la la la la
Beauty school dropout (beauty school dropout)
Hanging around the corner store
Beauty school dropout (beauty school dropout)
It's about time you knew the score
Well, they couldn't teach you anything
You think you're such a looker
But no customer would go to you
Unless she was a hooker
Baby don't sweat it (don't sweat it)
You're not cut out to hold a job
Better forget it (forget it)
Who wants their hair done by a slob?
Now your bangs are curled
Your lashes twirled
But still the world is cruel
Wipe off that angel face and go back to high school
Baby, don't blow it
Don't put my good advice to shame
Baby, you know it
Even dear Abby'd say the same
Now I've called the shot
Get off the pot
I really gotta fly
Gotta be going to that malt shop in the sky
Beauty school dropout (beauty school dropout)
Go back to high school
Beauty school dropout (beauty school dropout)
Go back to high school
Beauty school dropout (beauty school dropout)
Go back to high school
The song "Beauty School Dropout" by Frankie Avalon is a cautionary tale about a teenage ne'er do well who drops out of beauty school. The song describes the individual as a mixed-up non-delinquent on the block who has no clear future and failed the midterms and shampoo washing classes. The song is a message to the individual to stop wasting their time and to go back to high school instead of hanging around on the street corner hoping to get a job in a salon.
The lyrics suggest that the dropout has spent lots of money to have plastic surgery, including a nose job, but still cannot get a job in a salon. The lyrics emphasize the importance of education and the drive to succeed in the competitive beauty industry. The song also warns against vanity and unrealistic expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Your story sad to tell
Your past experiences are depressing
A teenage ne'er do well
You were never a productive or well-behaved teenager
Most mixed up non-delinquent on the block
You were the most confused, disoriented teenager on the block, but still never got in any major trouble
Your future's so unclear now
You don't know how your future will be like
What's left of your career now?
You have nothing left of your career
Can't even get a trade in on your smock
You can't even get a job as a beautician
La, la la la, la la la, la la la
Musical interlude
La la la la la la
Musical interlude
La la la la la la la
Musical interlude
Beauty school dropout
You are a high school dropout from beauty school
No graduation day for you
You didn't graduate from beauty school
Missed your mid-terms and flunked shampoo
You did badly on your beauty exams
Well, at least you could have taken time
You should have tried a little harder
To wash and clean your clothes up
Your appearance could use some work
After spending all that dough
After spending all that money on surgery
To have the doctor fix your nose up
You had plastic surgery on your nose
Baby, get movin'(better get movin')
You need to get moving and try harder
Why keep your feeble hopes alive?
Why do you bother trying when you're not succeeding
What are you provin'? (What are you provin')
What are you trying to show?
You've got the dream but not the drive
You have the aspirations but not the motivation
If you go for your diploma, you could join a steno pool
If you go back to school, you can become a secretary
Turn in your teasin' comb and go back to high school (la la la la la)
Stop trying to be a beautician and go back to high school
Beauty school dropout
You are a high school dropout from beauty school
Hanging around the corner store
You are just idling around
It's about time you knew the score
It's time that you realize the truth
Well, they couldn't teach you anything
You didn't learn anything from beauty school
You think you're such a looker
You think you look good
But no customer would go to you
But no one would let you do their hair
Unless she was a hooker
Unless it was a prostitute
Baby don't sweat it (don't sweat it)
Don't worry about it
You're not cut out to hold a job
You're not suited to work
Better forget it (forget it)
Just forget it
Who wants their hair done by a slob?
Who would let someone who doesn't care about their appearance do their hair?
Now your bangs are curled
Now that you've done up your hair nicely
Your lashes twirled
And your eyelashes are curled
But still the world is cruel
But the world is still not kind
Wipe off that angel face and go back to high school
Stop pretending to be innocent and go back to school
Baby, don't blow it
Don't mess up
Don't put my good advice to shame
Don't ignore my good advice
Baby, you know it
You know it's true
Even dear Abby'd say the same
Even the advice columnist Abby would say the same thing
Now I've called the shot
Now I've made the decision for you
Get off the pot
Stop hesitating
I really gotta fly
I need to go now
Gotta be going to that malt shop in the sky
I need to leave this world and go to heaven
Beauty school dropout
You are a high school dropout from beauty school
Go back to high school
Go back to school
Beauty school dropout
You are a high school dropout from beauty school
Go back to high school
Go back to school
Beauty school dropout
You are a high school dropout from beauty school
Go back to high school
Go back to school
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind