Originally, they used the moniker 'The Nightlife Thugs'. The name "The Boomtown Rats" comes from a gang of down-and-outs from Woody Guthrie's autobiography, which the folk artist titled 'Bound for Glory'. The guys gained fame due to their often cynical tunes, having several notable singles, yet their record is overshadowed by the charity work on behalf of famine relief of their lead singer. Geldof, being nicknamed 'Bob The Gob' by the media for his big mouth, attained international fame after spearheading efforts such as 'Live Aid'.
The Boomtown Rats itself scored several Top Ten hits in the UK charts during their commercial peak, from 1978 to 79, and their most famous songs, still to this day, are "Rat Trap" (a U.K. #1) and "I Don't Like Mondays" (another U.K. #1), the latter being their biggest hit and achieving international notoriety. The track was written on a tour of the US in 1979 when Bob Geldof heard a telex machine spouting the story of Californian schoolgirl Brenda Ann Spencer, a girl that went on wild shooting spree at a San Diego high school with what seemed like no provocation before or remorse afterward. She justified her killing spree with the excuse "I don't like Mondays".
Bob Geldof has been gifted with the art of story-telling through songs. Lyrics are mostly in third person, have clever double entendre meanings, often relating some story or incident, eg "Dave". Geldof's charity work has been centred around the issue of famine relief, and includes being the organiser for the Band Aid single, for which he brought a superstar pop lineup together to record a song to aid famine relief (at the time was the fastest selling single in Britain of all time) and organizing the LiveAid concerts, a 2-continent superstar live concert that raised over 100 million dollars for famine relief.
Guitarist Gerry Cott left the band in 1981 and the band became a quintet. They disbanded in 1986 following a charity concert in Ireland. Most of the band members have now moved on to solo projects or new bands.
The Boomtown Rats reformed in 2013 going on tour again and released a new best of album Back to Boomtown : Classic Rats Hits which includes two new recorded songs.
Mary of the 4th Form
The Boomtown Rats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mary of the fourth form
Turnin' all the boys on
She's turnin' all their heads around
Hitchin' up her short skirt
Stretchin' out her long legs
Pullin' up her stockings
She's combing out her long hair
Openin' her lips wide
Shiftin' in her seat. Yeah,
She slowly moves her hips aside
But in the middle of the night
She wakes her Mom to turn out the light
Her make-up's on and her jeans are skintight
And she's heading to the Pillar Bar
Johnnie looks alright tonight she thinks
He gives her a smoke and he buys her a drink
He shoots a frame and they head off into the night.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Teacher's losing control
Thankfully the bell rings
Mary's left all alone
With no one but the teacher
She quickly drops her pencil
And slowly bends to get it
Teacher is a natural man
His hand moves out to touch her
She straightens and looks around, yeah
She laughs and leaves the room, yeah
Heartbreak for the teacher
Sweet dreams for young Mary
But in the middle of the night
She wakes her Dad to turn out the light
Her make-up's on and her jeans are skintight
And she's headed to the Pillar Bar
Johnnie looks great tonight, she thinks
He gives her a smoke and he buys her a drink
Shoots off a frame and they head off into the night.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
Mary of the fourth form.
The Boomtown Rats' "Mary of the 4th Form" depicts a young girl named Mary, who manipulates and flirts with the boys and her teacher. Sitting in the front row, Mary turns all the boys' heads with her short skirt and long legs while staring seductively at her teacher who slowly moves toward her. However, Mary seems to be in control despite any advances made by the boys or her teacher. In the middle of the night, Mary leaves her room, dressed in skin-tight jeans and makeup. She heads to the Pillar Bar with Johnnie, a boy she wants to be with. Meanwhile, the teacher is left heartbroken ending in sweet dreams for young Mary.
"Mary of the 4th Form" is a tale of the sexual dynamics of high school during the '70s. The lyrics showcase the way girls have power and control over boys' thoughts and the lengths the boys would go to impress them. As for Mary, she is aware of the influence she has over others and uses this to gain attention and admiration. However, the dynamic changes as she gains more control and asserts herself.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' in the front row
Mary is sitting in the front of the classroom.
Mary of the fourth form
Mary is a student in the fourth grade.
Turnin' all the boys down
Mary is not interested in the boys who like her.
She's turnin' all their heads around
The boys are fascinated by Mary's beauty and confidence.
Hitchin' up her short skirt
Mary is lifting up her skirt to show off her legs.
Stretchin' out her long legs
Mary is stretching her legs to make them look longer.
Pullin' up her stockings
Mary is pulling up her stockings to show them off.
She's combing out her black hair
Mary is brushing her hair to make it look nice.
Starin' at the teacher
Mary is looking at the teacher.
Openin' her lips wide
Mary is opening her mouth to show off her teeth or to be seductive.
Shiftin' in her seat. Yeah,
Mary is adjusting her position in her chair.
She slowly moves her hips aside
Mary is moving her hips in a suggestive way.
But in the middle of the night
Late at night,
She wakes her Mom to turn out the light
Mary wakes her mother to turn off the lights.
Her make-up's on and her jeans are skin tight
Mary is wearing tight jeans and makeup.
And she's heading to the Pillar Bar
Mary goes to a local bar called the Pillar.
Johnnie looks alright tonight she thinks
Mary thinks Johnnie looks good tonight.
He gives her a smoke and he buys her a drink
Johnnie offers Mary a cigarette and buys her a drink.
He shoots a frame and they head off into the night.
Johnnie takes a photo of them before they leave the bar.
Teacher's losing control
The teacher is losing control of his desires for Mary.
Thankfully the bell rings
The school bell rings, ending class.
Mary's left all alone
Mary is left alone in the classroom with the teacher.
With no one but the teacher
There is no one else in the room besides Mary and the teacher.
She quickly drops her pencil
Mary drops her pencil on purpose to bend down in front of the teacher.
And slowly bends to get it
Mary is bending over in front of the teacher to show her body to him.
Teacher is a natural man
The teacher is a man who likes women.
His hand moves out to touch her
The teacher reaches out to touch Mary inappropriately.
She straightens and looks around, yeah
Mary quickly stands up and looks around the room nervously.
She laughs and leaves the room, yeah
Mary thinks it's funny and quickly runs away from the teacher.
Heartbreak for the teacher
The teacher is disappointed that he couldn't have sex with Mary.
Sweet dreams for young Mary
Mary goes to bed happy after flirting with boys and leaving the teacher hanging.
Mary of the fourth form.
The chorus repeats that Mary is a student in the fourth grade.
Mary of the fourth form.
Another repetition of the chorus.
Mary of the fourth form.
The last repetition of the chorus, emphasizing Mary's youth and innocence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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