Kelly Johnson and Denise Dufort later joined and in April 1978 they changed their name to Girlschool.
Their first single Take it all away was released on the City Records label which led to them gaining a Motörhead support slot on the Overkill tour in 1979.
Having signed with Lemmy´s record company Bronze later that year, the band released their first album Demolition in 1980.
After touring Japan in 1982, Enid left and was replaced by Gil Weston of The Killjoys and Girlschool recorded their third album Screaming Blue Murder.
When Kelly left to live in L.A. she was replaced by Cris Bonacci on lead guitar and singer Jackie Bodimead on lead vocals for the 1985 album Running Wild.
After many more line-up changes and releases on various labels, the original bassist/vocalist Enid rejoined the band in 2000, together with Jackie Chambers. In 2002 the band released the 21st Anniversary: Not that Innocent album.
Their 12th and latest output is the re-recorded Hit and Run: Revisited. Girlschool continued to tour Europe and South America in 2011-12 and returned in Japan in 2013. In early 2015, they recorded a new album titled 'Guilty as Sin' with producer Chris Tsangarides, which was released on 13 November 2015. On 30 January 2019, it was announced on the band's website that "Girlschool have parted ways once again with bassist Enid Williams" and that Tracey Lamb would return to replace her.
In 2023, Girlschool, now consisting of Kim McAuliffe on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Denise Dufort on drums, Tracey Lamb on bass and Jackie Chambers on lead guitar have unveiled a video for their new single “Are You Ready?” from their upcoming studio album WTFortyfive?, which will be released on July 28, 2023.
--Discography--
Demolition (1980)
Hit and Run (1981)
Screaming Blue Murder (1982)
Play Dirty (1983)
Running Wild (1985)
Nightmare at Maple Cross (1986)
Take a Bite (1988)
Girlschool (1992)
21st Anniversary: Not That Innocent (2002)
Believe (2004)
Legacy (2008)
Hit and Run - Revisited (2011)
Guilty as Sin (2015)
WTFortyfive? (2023)
Girls On Top
Girlschool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One look will turn your head around
Sugar and spice, everything nice
Now the girls are back in town
Boys will be boys so they say
But we know a better way
Girls on top
Roses and blood, leather and studs
Shouldn't push your luck to far
Nasty not cheap, bitter and sweet
We like it just the way we are
So don't call us we'll call you
Something special when we're on the loose
Girls on top
Good good girls like us
From London Town we don't mess around
Good good girls like us
You can look but don't touch
The lyrics to Girlschool's "Girls On Top" are an ode to female empowerment and independence. The opening lines describe the contrasting but complementing qualities that women possess- "Dirty and mean, peaches, and cream / One look will turn your head around / Sugar and spice, everything nice." The lyrics also suggest that despite living in a society where boys are expected to be boys, women have found better ways to take charge, as they sing "Boys will be boys so they say / But we know a better way." This implies that they have found a way to stand out and take control, indicating that they are "Girls on top."
The chorus "Good good girls like us / From London Town we don't mess around / Good good girls like us / You can look but don't touch" emphasizes the confident and unapologetic nature of women. They have become aware of their worth, and are making their presence felt in a predominantly male-dominated world, where they are not just an accessory but can establish themselves as equals. The lyrics also highlight the importance of women sticking together, staying true to themselves, and refusing to lower their standards for anyone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Dirty and mean, peaches and cream
They may look pretty with their peach-like skin-tones, but they are not afraid to get their hands dirty in whatever challenge comes their way
One look will turn your head around
Girls are so pretty and powerful that just one glance from them is enough to leave a lasting impression on your mind
Sugar and spice, everything nice
Girls may look soft and pretty but they have equal measures of strength and resilience - a combination that is unbeatable
Now the girls are back in town
Girls are the centre of attention and are here to stay
Boys will be boys so they say
Typically, men are careless and juvenile in their behaviour, but the girls have a better way of doing things
But we know a better way
The girls have a better way of doing things than the boys, and they are not afraid to show it
Girls on top
The girls are strong, beautiful and authoritative - they are the ones in charge
Roses and blood, leather and studs
Girls may look pretty with roses, but they are capable of getting bloodied in fights. They may sport leather and metal studs, but they still retain their feminine charm
Shouldn't push your luck too far
While the girls are empathetic, kind and understanding, you shouldn't push your luck too far with them
Nasty not cheap, bitter and sweet
Girls may be perceived as naughty, but they are never cheap in their behaviour. They possess a perfect balance of the good and the bad, and maintain their sweetness even during the bitter moments
We like it just the way we are
The girls are comfortable with who they are, what they do and how they do it. They don't need anyone's approval or validation
So don't call us we'll call you
The girls don't need your attention, you need theirs
Something special when we're on the loose
The girls are special, and when they are given the freedom to do what they do best - the results are extra ordinary
Good good girls like us
The girls are not just good; they are exceptionally good in everything they do
From London Town we don't mess around
The girls have a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to achieving their goals, and that stems from their London upbringing
You can look but don't touch
The girls know they are pretty and worthy of attention, but they also have their boundaries. You can look at them, but it's not okay to touch them without their consent
Contributed by Callie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.