Don’t know much about history: The best songs about education

Often taken as a euphemism for sexual education, songs about schoolin’ and such in rock have existed as single entendres since at least Chuck Berry and Gary “U.S.” Bonds. The tradition continued in hip-hop and certain branches of college rock well into the nineties. I see a larger thesis waiting to be written addressing how the increased role of public education made “School Daze” and Slick Rick’s classic jam “Teacher Teacher” (not here cuz I prefer “Hey Young World”) unavoidable.

1. Sam Cooke – (What A) Wonderful World
2. Steely Dan – My Old School
3. Taylor Swift – Fifteen
4. Slick Rick – Hey Young World
5. A Tribe Called Quest – Butter
6. Erykah Badu – Master Teachers
7. James Brown – Don’t Be a Dropout
8. Gary U.S. Bonds – School is Out
9. Timbuk 3 – The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades
10. The Jackson 5 – ABC
11. Chuck Berry – School Daze
12. Fountains Of Wayne – Too Cool for School
13. The Undertones – Smarter Than You
14. Brownsville Station – Smokin’ in the Boy’s Room
15. Kanye West – School Spirit
16. Alice Cooper – School’s Out
17. Mobb Deep – Peer Pressure
18. Kriss Kross – I Missed the Bus
19. Boogie Down Productions – You Must Learn
20. Van Halen – Hot For Teacher
21. Monie Love – Monie in the Middle
22. The Beach Boys – Be True to Your School
23. Paul Westerberg – Knockin’ On Mine
24. The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By
25. Brad Paisley – Letter to Me