Teacher Teacher
Rockpile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cheeks flushed, apple red
Ringing you every day
Begging for a word of praise
I've put aside my foolish games
I run and hide and call names
School's out, the bells'll ring
Now's the time to teach me everything
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Lesson one, just begun
Growing up, ain't much fun
Grown up, out of school
Out of luck and out of rules
No one there to tell me how
A different world, teacher, teacher, teach me now
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Lesson two nothing new
I can't love, just passing through
The books I read don't understand
What it means to be a man
I need a woman just like you
Teacher, teacher, teach me what to do
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
The lyrics to Rockpile's song "Teacher Teacher" tell a story of a young man in love with his teacher. He yearns for her approval and attention as he navigates growing up and discovering what it means to love. The first verse describes his infatuation with her, calling her the "teacher's pet" as he seeks her praise. However, he acknowledges his own immaturity, admitting to playing childish games and name-calling. The chorus repeats the plea for the teacher to teach him love as he cannot learn it fast enough.
In the second verse, the singer has grown up and is now out of school. He laments the lack of rules and guidance as he navigates this new world without anyone to tell him how to love. He continues to plead for the teacher's guidance as he grapples with this new reality. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing his need for the teacher's instruction.
The final verse again acknowledges his inexperience with love, admitting that he "can't love, just passing through." He turns to books for guidance, but they do not provide the answers he needs. He ultimately concludes that he needs a woman like the teacher to show him the way. The song ends with one final repetition of the chorus.
Overall, "Teacher Teacher" explores the complexity of love and the need for guidance and instruction, particularly for young people navigating their way through this unfamiliar territory.
Line by Line Meaning
Young love, teacher's pet
Describing a teenage romance where one partner is the favorite of the teacher
Cheeks flushed, apple red
Indicating the blushing and excitement of the young couple
Ringing you every day
The person is constantly calling their partner seeking attention
Begging for a word of praise
The person is seeking validation and approval from their partner
I've put aside my foolish games
The person is matured and ready to take the relationship seriously
I run and hide and call names
Describing a childish behavior that the person is now trying to leave behind
School's out, the bells'll ring
The school year is over and the person is ready for new experiences
Now's the time to teach me everything
The person is eager to learn and grow in the relationship
Lesson one, just begun
The person is starting a new chapter in their life
Growing up, ain't much fun
Acknowledging the difficulties of growing up and navigating relationships
Grown up, out of school
The person is now an adult and out of the school environment
Out of luck and out of rules
The person is now on their own, without the safety net of school rules and structure
No one there to tell me how
The person is looking for guidance and direction
A different world, teacher, teacher, teach me now
The person is acknowledging that the adult world is different and is seeking the guidance of their partner
Lesson two nothing new
The person is recognizing that relationships can be tough to figure out
I can't love, just passing through
The person is struggling with understanding how to truly love someone
The books I read don't understand
The person is looking for answers but can't find them in literature
What it means to be a man
The person is seeking to understand masculinity and how it relates to relationships
I need a woman just like you
The person knows that their partner is the best person to teach them about love and relationships
Teacher, teacher, teach me what to do
The person is directly asking their partner for guidance and direction
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
The person is asking their partner to teach them about love
I can't learn it fast enough
The person is eager to learn and grow in the relationship
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
The person is looking for continued guidance from their partner
I've got to learn to love for sure
The person knows that they need to learn how to love properly in order for the relationship to thrive
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ERIC T. SADLER, JAMES HENRY BOXLEY III, NAHIEM JOHNSON, OLIVER MARTIN SUNDERLAND, RICKY M. L. WALTERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
Young love, teacher's pet
Cheeks flushed, apple red
Ringing you every day
Begging for a word of praise
I've put aside my foolish games
I run and hide and call names
School's out, the bells'll ring
Now's the time to teach me everything
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Lesson one, just begun
Growing up, ain't much fun
Grown up, out of school
Out of luck and out of rules
No one there to tell me how
A different world, teacher, teacher, teach me now
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Lesson two nothing new
I can't love, just passing through
The books I read don't understand
What it means to be a man
I need a woman just like you
Teacher, teacher, teach me what to do
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
@Asimpleyoutubechannel821
Young love, teacher's pet
Cheeks flushed, apple red
Ringing you every day
Begging for a word of praise
I've put aside my foolish games
I run and hide and call names
School's out, the bells'll ring
Now's the time to teach me everything
------------------------------
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
------------------------------------
Lesson one, just begun
Growing up, ain't much fun
Grown up, out of school
Out of luck and out of rules
No one there to tell me how
A different world, teacher, teacher, teach me now
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
----------------------------------------------
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Lesson two nothing new
I can't love, just passing through
---------------------------------------------------------------
The books I read don't understand
What it means to be a man
I need a woman just like you
Teacher, teacher, teach me what to do
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure
Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
@AGPfan
NICK:
Young love, teacher's pet.
Cheeks flushed, apple red.
Ringin' new everyday.
Beggin' for a word of praise.
I put aside my foolish games.
I run and hide and call names.
School's out, bells will ring.
Now's the time to teach me everything!
NICK, BILLY AND DAVE:
Teacher, teacher, teach me love!
I can't learn it fast enough!
Teacher, teacher, teach me more!
I gotta learn to love for sure!
NICK:
Lesson 1 just begun.
(his voice briefly multiplied) Growin' up ain't much fun.
Growin' up, outta school.
Outta love, outta rules.
No one there to tell me how.
A different world, teacher, teach me now!
NICK, BILLY AND DAVE:
Teacher, teacher, teach me love!
I can't learn it fast enough!
Teacher, teacher, teach me more!
I gotta learn to love for sure!
NICK:
Lesson 2: nothin' new.
(his voice multiplied again) I can't love just passin' through.
(Billy and Dave hammer away on a powerful electric guitar interlude)
NICK:
Books I read don't understand,
What it means to be a man.
I need a woman just like you.
Teacher, teacher, teach me what to do!
NICK, BILLY AND DAVE:
Teacher, teacher, teach me love!
I can't learn it fast enough!
Teacher, teacher, teach me more!
I gotta learn to love for sure!
(repeat to fade)
@jeffgoldenberg9579
Amazing how Lowe's and Edmunds' voices and styles complemented each other so perfectly. And yet they had such friction that only one album came out. But what a record it is. One of the real rock and roll champs.
@ollytheowl
Assume that you mean 'Seconds of Pleasure'. Most of the problems were due to contractual issues. Rockpile appear on Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds "solo" albums. Try them out.
@77Badger
@ollytheowl If I remember right, Nick and Dave were on two different record labels in the UK (Radar and Swan Song?) and that caused a LOT of issues for Rockpile. So what they did was produce two albums at the same time, one for Nick and one for Dave. Same personnel (Terry and Billy) on both albums. So result is their fans got two albums at about the same time. They were a little different in style, Nick's more Power Pop and Dave's more Rockabilly and even country. Not a bad thing.
@popmonika
They actually released four albums together (this was the only one under the official rockpile name.)
The other three being two of Edmund's solo albums (Trax on wax 4, repeat when necessary) and Lowe's labour of lust.
@jeffgoldenberg9579
Yes, of course. Am well aware of the solo records and pretty much have all of them.
@Anca820
Loved Rockpile back in the day AND now. Dave, Nick--amazing. The music holds up even now.
@AGPfan
Love this song! Nick has an incredible voice.
@robertguatelli9178
The harmonies in Rockpile are rockabilly heaven. Reminiscent of the Everly Bros
@jimlaregina
When this album debuted in 1980, an E.P. of Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe performing four Everly Brothers songs came with it. In more recent years, the C.D. reissue of SECONDS OF PLEASURE included those songs.
@ToddtheExploder
Just love this song, every time. Great arrangement, great guitar.