“Girls and Boys in School” speaks for itself, with a playground chant over a dark yet sing-along synth-pop chorus. Chris Allen has a quirky, edgy Johnny Marrr-meets-The Edge guitar playing while drummer Elaine Bradley drums with the intensity of John Bonham adding a heartbeat to the sensuality of the songs.
Girls And Boys In School
Neon Trees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like we're undercover
Like we're in our freshman year
Like all the girls and boys in school
Our anticipation
And our bad behavin'
It's like we learned or lesson
Questions for questions
I've got a question
Would you ever dance with me like that
Questions for questions
I've got a question
Would you ever dance with me like that
I don't want your lover
Like my younger brother
He's patronized another
But I think it's serious this time
I don't want you fading
Acting like you hate me
It's just like all your paper cuts
They cut you in the coldest spots
Questions for questions
I've got a question
Would you ever dance with me like that
Questions for questions
I've got a question
Would you ever dance with me like that
Fuck all the rest and forget the rules
Like all the girls and boys in my school
Questions for questions
I've got a question
Would you ever dance with me like that
I said to this end
Don't hurt your best friend
I said to this end
Don't hurt your best friend
I said to this end
Don't hurt your best friend
I said to this end
Don't hurt your best friend
Questions for questions
I've got a question
Would you ever dance with me like that
Questions for questions
I've got a question
Would you ever dance with me like that
Fuck all the rest and forget the rules
Like all the girls and boys in my school
Questions for questions
I've got a question
Would you ever dance with me like that
Would you ever
Would you ever
Would you ever
Would you ever
Keep playing along again
The song "Girls And Boys In School" by Neon Trees is a nostalgic reflection of a simpler time in life when everything seemed new and exciting. The lyrics are a mix of yearning, desire, and regret as the singer reminisces about the innocence of youth and the pain that inevitably comes with growing up. It conveys a sense of longing for a past that can never be recaptured, a time when love was pure and uninhibited by the complexities of adult life.
The opening line "Play me down my lover, like we're undercover" sets the tone for the whole song. It suggests a secrecy, a feeling of being young and rebellious, and wanting to explore what life has to offer. The chorus "Questions for questions, I've got a question, would you ever dance with me like that" hints at the uncertainty of youth, the fear of rejection, and the longing to connect with someone, to be seen and understood.
The lyric "Fuck all the rest and forget the rules, like all the girls and boys in my school" is a statement of rebellion, a cry to live life on one's own terms, and to reject societal norms. It suggests that the singer is tired of pretending to be someone they're not and wants to break free from the constraints of a conformist society.
Overall, "Girls And Boys in School" is a beautifully crafted song that speaks to the universal experience of growing up, falling in love, and learning to navigate the complexities of adult life.
Line by Line Meaning
Play me down my lover
Let's keep this relationship on the down-low
Like we're undercover
Let's behave secretly like covert agents
Like we're in our freshman year
Let's relive our carefree first year of college
Like all the girls and boys in school
Let's act like teenagers again
Our anticipation
Our eagerness for this relationship
And our bad behavin'
Our tendency to misbehave
It's like we learned or lesson
It's like we've been taught a lesson before
But conveniently forgot the rules
But we choose to ignore the rules that come with it
Questions for questions
I have a lot of questions
I've got a question
I have something to ask you
Would you ever dance with me like that
Would you ever have the courage to be with me openly like this
I don't want your lover
I don't want you to treat me like someone you're just with to move on
Like my younger brother
Like I'm just a sibling to you
He's patronized another
You've hurt me before by choosing someone else over me
But I think it's serious this time
But I hope this time it's different
I don't want you fading
I don't want you to disappear from my life
Acting like you hate me
Even though your actions suggest otherwise
It's just like all your paper cuts
It's like small things hurt you deeply
They cut you in the coldest spots
They hurt you in vulnerable areas
Fuck all the rest and forget the rules
Let's ignore everyone else and do what we want
I said to this end
I'm committed to this relationship
Don't hurt your best friend
Don't hurt me, your closest friend
Keep playing along again
Keep pretending that everything is normal
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Branden Campbell, Christopher Allen, Elaine Doty, Tyler Glenn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind