When I taught in the classroom, sometimes I used lyrics for Bell Work. I would play the song while students answered the questions I provided about the song. One of my favorites was “No Such Thing” by John Mayer and Douglas Cook. This song has many layers; students relate to the themes and allusions.
“Welcome to the real world,”
She said to me condescendingly
Take a seat, take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Although we don’t know who “she” is, as a class we discussed “how” this phrase is meant to be said. Not nicely, but condescendingly. We would have some fun in the class by having volunteers pronounce the phrase in different ways.
Well, I never lived the dream of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I’d like to think the best of me
Is still hiding up my sleeve
Students liked this part because the song is about high school. Students can relate to these verses and what he is referring to. So much drama is a part of many teens’ lives in high school. Mayer doesn’t conform to the social status of kings and queens. Instead, he feels he found the best of himself after high school, which is true for many people. Many teenagers do better when they have more maturity in the years after high school.
They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something’s better
On the other side
I asked students to find allusions in the song. Inferring can be challenging for some students, but through group discussions, they could identify “stay inside the lines.” One of the first memories students remember is being in grade school and learning how to write, and the teacher reminding them to stay inside the lines, or trying to be good at coloring when they were little, and learning how to stay inside the lines.
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
Such great lines from Mayer and Cook. “No such thing as the real world, just a lie you’ve got to rise above.” Many teenagers feel like high school is the most important thing in the world, and then after graduation, and a few years later, many learn how ridiculous some of it was.
So the good boys and girls
Take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits and maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can’t find the answers
I love Mayer’s take on this. Going to college is not for everyone, and he was able to follow his dreams and make something with his music. He is giving hope to all those who have these dreams. Go for it! And if college is not the way to go, then forge your own way to pursue your dreams.
And all of our parents, they’re getting older
I wonder if they’ve wished for anything better
While in their memories tiny tragedies
They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something’s better
On the other side
The alliteration of “tiny tragedies”. Mayer is describing the little “what ifs” or regrets our parents had. They worry for their kids; they want the best for them, so they remind them to “stay inside the lines.” It’s safer to go to college and pursue a real career.
I am invincible
I am invincible
I am invincible
As long as I’m alive
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
I just can’t wait ’til my ten year reunion
I’m gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for
He’s gonna bust down those double-doors. He’s invincible!
- Lyrics are a great way to have fun in a classroom. They are relatable and allow students to discuss themes and personal experiences. Students often wanted to listen to the song two to three times while writing their responses.
- Songs are short texts but can provide in-depth conversations.
- Songs are open to interpretation and can be ambiguous, which helps with critical thinking and making inferences.
- Lyric can be used to teach about literary devices, providing a fun and engaging way to practice these skills.
- They are FUN!
Leave a Reply