On April 24, 1988, Jonathan Poneman from Sub Pop secured Nirvana the openin… Read Full Bio ↴On April 24, 1988, Jonathan Poneman from Sub Pop secured Nirvana the opening slot on a Sub Pop Sunday show at The Vogue in Seattle. Poneman, along with his business partner Bruce Pavitt, scene photographer Charles Peterson, and Mudhoney's Mark Arm, were among those who were embarrassed by the band's typically messy performance.

However, in his subsequent letter to Melvin's drummer Dale Crover, Cobain put a self-serving spin on the night's events, venting his frustration at the exclusive grunge elders with the dismissive remark "Fuck, I'm in high school again!". Therefore creating the lyric "You're in high school again".

The letter was never sent, but when asked to jot down lyrics for a steady instrumental at guitarist Jason Everman's house, those sentiments became the central theme of the song "School."

"We wrote it about Sub Pop," confessed Cobain. "If we could've thrown Soundgarden's name in there, we would have."

School
Nirvana Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Won't you believe it? It's just my luck
Won't you believe it? It's just my luck
Won't you believe it? It's just my luck
Won't you believe it? It's just my luck

No recess
No recess
No recess

Won't you believe it? It's just my luck
Won't you believe it? It's just my luck
Won't you believe it? It's just my luck
Won't you believe it? It's just my luck

No recess
No recess
No recess

You're in high school again
You're in high school again
You're in high school again
You're in high school again

You're in high school again
You're in high school again
You're in high school again

No recess
No recess
No recess

No recess
No recess

No recess
No recess

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nirvana's "School" paint a picture of a frustrated and helpless student who is stuck in a cycle of bad luck. The repetition of the line "Won't you believe it? It's just my luck" conveys a sense of resignation to the fact that nothing seems to be going right for him. The lines "No recess" are repeated throughout the song, creating an oppressive atmosphere where the student is denied even the simple pleasure of a break from studying. The repetition of the line "You're in high school again" creates a sense of imprisonment and claustrophobia, as if the student is being forced to relive the same experiences over and over again.

The lyrics to "School" can be interpreted as critique of the education system, where students are often forced to conform to rigid structures and are denied basic freedoms such as recess. The line "You're in high school again" can also be seen as a commentary on the adult world, where people are often trapped in repetitive and unfulfilling jobs. Additionally, the lyrics can be seen as a reflection of the adolescent angst that Nirvana was known for, with the feelings of frustration and powerlessness that are common to teenage life.

Line by Line Meaning

Won't you believe it? It's just my luck
Expressing disappointment that things have not gone the way one wanted.

No recess
Lamenting the lack of free time or breaks that one used to enjoy.

You're in high school again
Feeling like one is trapped in a situation where they have no autonomy or control.

No recess
Continuing to express frustration about the lack of breaks or downtime.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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