10 of the Most Memorable Old School Songs About School

It's almost back to school time and with that comes to mind the many songs about school. Be it anti-school or all about school spirit, here are some of the most memorable old school songs about school.

"High School U.S.A." - Tommy Facenda, 1959 This one hit wonder started out as an interesting idea for a novelty song, with 28 versions of it recorded using various high school regions from all over the country. From Portland, Oregon to Hartford, Connecticut, this song was customized for markets all over the U.S.A. making it the ultimate song about school.

"I Don't Like Mondays"- The Boomtown Rats, 1979 Definitely not a song about school spirit, this song referenced the true story of San Diego teen Brenda Ann Spencer, who decided to go on a schoolyard shooting spree back in 1979. Her reason for killing the school principal, the custodian, and injuring 8 children and a police officer? According to Snopes.com, Spencer explained, "I don't like Mondays."

"Hot for Teacher"- Van Halen, 1984 Back before Van Hagar, the original Van Halen lineup released this sexually-charged song about schoolboy lust. Tipper Gore's Parents Music Resource Center hated this song and racy music video, but that didn't stop it from being one of the most-played and memorable videos ever on MTV.

"Me and Julio Down By the School Yard"- Paul Simon, 1972 The meaning of this 1972 song is up for debate, but one thing is for sure: the unidentified incident took place down by the school yard. Law breaking is mentioned, the police are called, and it sounds like a school detention is in Julio's future. Or perhaps something worse.

"Be True to Your School"- The Beach Boys, 1963 The ultimate school spirit anthem, this song plays like a high school pep rally, complete with the "rah rah rah's" and all. The name of the school the band is cheering for is not mentioned, but the Beach Boys' Wilson brothers and band mate Al Jardine all attended Hawthorne High School in California, so you do the math.

"Smokin' in the Boys Room" - Brownsville Station, 1973 This single – which  poked fun at the drudgery of school and its rules -- was a surprise hit for the Michigan-based band Brownsville Station, and the song even made it on to the K-Tel compilation album, "Sound Explosion,” mixed in with big names like Gladys Knight and the Pips and Sonny and Cher. Hard rock band Motley Crue covered this song in 1985, but it didn't hold a Bic lighter to the original.

"My Old School"-Steely Dan, 1973 A rarity for a song about school, this tune mentions the town of Steely Dan lead singer Donald Fagen's school: Annandale (short for Annandale-on Hudson, NY). The school is Bard College and in the song he vows that California will "tumble into the sea" before he'll go back to that school. But according to a 2006 Entertainment Weekly article, Fagen did go back to pay a visit to his old alma mater. As far as we know, California is still intact.

"Rock 'n' Roll High School"- The Ramones, 1979 This song was featured on the soundtrack to the movie of the same name and it was all fun and games for these guys. Forget history class;  chicks were the only thing these punks were interested in learning about. Oh, that and cruising in their GTO.

"Another Brick in the Wall Part II"- Pink Floyd, 1979 Who can forget this song from Pink Floyd's 1979 rock opera, The Wall. The opposite of a school pep song, this classic song featured school children chanting the grammatically incorrect, "We don't need no education.” Hmm, with grammar like that maybe they do.

"School's Out"- Alice Cooper, 1982 Is it June yet? This end of school anthem was a mainstream hit for rocker Alice Cooper back in the day, and it is still played on radio stations all over the planet at the end of every school year. This song got a 2010 update when Cooper performed it on the season 9 finale of American Idol, complete with robotic looking, black-eyed schoolgirls.