A week or so later they saw each other again, this time at a Patti Smith poetry reading. Bill was accompanied by his friends Lori Reese and Michael Alago. They became fast friends. Soon they were planning what shows they would see, and when they would see each other.
Before long they decided that the easiest way to continue going to all of the shows they wanted to see would be to start a band. Bands could get into the clubs they played for free, you see, and so soon they joined ranks and decided to become the Student Teachers. Bill and Lori brought in their friend (and Bill's schoolmate) Laura Davis. Alago decided he would rather photograph than perform. Now all they had to do was decide what instruments to play. Only Bill had an instrument, an electronic ELKA keyboard he was practicing on. Phillip wanted to play guitar. Lori and Laura decided to become the first girl rhythm section in a mixed gender band. That left singing for David.
Bill and David used some saved funds to sponsor rehearsals, second hand instruments were purchased for Phillip and the Girls, and they started taking lessons from the guys who rented them their rehearsal space. Songs started spilling forth - "The Quake" based on the religion of the Quaker school that Bill and Laura attended, "Captain Kelly" about a failed fire alarm, "Zero Cool" inspired by Roddy McDowell's catch phrase in the hipster cult film "The Cool Ones," "Realworldfun" about being submerged in the world of kitsch television reruns, "Channel 13" about the surreality of everyday life, "We're All Damaged" about exactly what it sounds like, and "Christmas Weather," about a real-life car accident that the band survived together on the way to Max's Kansas City.
They played their first public set in the Gym at Friend's Seminary, the Quaker school on East 15th St. where Bill and Laura attended. They invited their scene friends The Blessed, a teenage punk band who had been likened to a Jr. High incarnation of the Dead Boys. They were loud, nasty, fun and a little retarded...and they had a strong and growing following in the downtown NY music scene. The Blessed liked the Student Teachers set so much they invited them to play that (Easter) Sunday at Max's in one of the opening sets.
The Student Teachers played their first gig at Max's on March 26, 1978, without having to endure the audition process. Two weeks later they were able to book an opening slot at CBGBs (also without auditioning). They were added as an opening band for Teenage Jesus and the Jerks by Lydia Lunch herself. They were on their way...soon getting booked without favors at both clubs...and even breaking the unwritten rule about not playing at one club within two weeks of the other.
Looks
Student Teachers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say you don't look so good
I went out in the cold
To get a paper
Pushing every button in the elevator
And I know
I got my looks
Must have learned them
From a million stars
Oh looks
Oh man
Oh looks
Oh man
I get em on the bus
And I get em on the streets
And I get them from you
Always looking for a reason
Looking for a cure
What can I do
I'm just so tired of the view
And I wish the lights would dim
Cause I can see what this is leading to
And it looks real grim
And I know
I got my looks
And you got yours
I guess you just weren't
What I was looking for
Oh looks
Oh man
Oh looks
Oh man
I get em on the bus
And I get on the street
And I get em from you
Always looking for a reason
Looking for a cure
What can I do
The song "Looks" by Student Teachers is a commentary on the importance that society places on physical appearance. The lyrics contrast the singer's own dissatisfaction with their looks with the way in which they constantly observe and judge the looks of others. The opening lines of the song, "You say don't look at me / I say you don't look so good" set the tone for this theme. The singer implies that their own appearance is probably not exceptional, but that they cannot help but judge the looks of others. The lines "And I get em on the bus / And I get em on the street / And I get them from you / Always looking for a reason / Looking for a cure / What can I do" suggest that the singer is constantly surrounded by images and messages that emphasize the importance of physical appearance, and that they themselves are also seeking validation through their looks.
The repetition of the phrase "Oh looks / Oh man" throughout the song serves to reinforce the central message. The singer is frustrated with the emphasis on looks in society, but also feels trapped by it. They have internalized the message that appearances matter, and so they continue to scrutinize themselves and others.
The song ends on a grim note, with the lines "And I wish the lights would dim / Cause I can see what this is leading to / And it looks real grim." This suggests that the singer sees the cult of looks as leading to a negative outcome – perhaps a society that is superficial, judgmental, and lacking in deeper values.
Overall, "Looks" is a critique of the ways in which society obsesses over physical appearance, and the toll that this can take on individuals and on society as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
You say don't look at me
You're telling me not to stare at you.
I say you don't look so good
In response, I'm telling you that you don't appear to be doing well either.
I went out in the cold
I left my warm environment and braved the low temperatures outside.
To get a paper
I had a task of getting a newspaper or perhaps some other written document.
Pushing every button in the elevator
I made sure to press every button inside the elevator to indicate my impatience or just to occupy myself during the ride.
And I know
I'm aware.
I got my looks
I possess a physical appearance that people tend to notice.
And you got yours
The same can be said of you.
Must have learned them
Our attractive features were probably influenced by external factors.
From a million stars
The source of our good looks may be countless and difficult to pinpoint.
Oh looks
Physical attractiveness is a significant aspect of our lives.
Oh man
It's a reality we have to face and accept.
I get em on the bus
I encounter stares and attention from people while riding the bus.
And I get em on the streets
The same goes for when I'm walking out in public.
Always looking for a reason
Regardless of where they come from, we always feel the need to know why people find us attractive or not.
Looking for a cure
It's tempting to think that there is some way to eliminate or minimize unwanted attention based on looks.
What can I do
However, there really isn't any surefire solution.
I'm just so tired of the view
I'm exhausted from seeing the same thing over and over again - people staring at me because of my appearance.
And I wish the lights would dim
I yearn for a moment of darkness or privacy where people can't see me.
Cause I can see what this is leading to
I'm beginning to anticipate unpleasant or uncomfortable consequences because of being attractive.
And it looks real grim
These consequences seem difficult and even scary to deal with.
I guess you just weren't
You, the person I'm addressing, apparently don't fit my standards of physical beauty.
What I was looking for
It seems like I'm always searching for someone who meets my expectations of appearance.
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wolo
The second line should be "I say THEN don't look so good".