The Burning of the School
Encyclopedia
"The Burning of the School" (not an official title) is a parody
of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic
", known and sung by schoolchildren throughout the United States
and in some locations in the United Kingdom
.
Like the Battle Hymn itself, the parody is sung to the tune of John Brown's Body
. In versions known to have appeared in print, the opening line always changes the original 'Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord' to 'Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school
.' Also, the first line of the refrain
, 'Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!', seems always to be followed in the parody by the line 'Teacher
hit me with a ruler
.' (A few versions have been collected that change 'Hallelujah' to 'What's it to ya?', but most leave the first line intact.)
The rest of the lyrics vary with time and place, but generally involve the children inflicting various types of mayhem on the school and its staff.
In their 1959 book The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, the British folklorists Peter and Iona Opie recorded that 'Glory, glory hallelujah/Teacher hit me with a ruler' was frequently sung by children in Market Rasen
, Lincolnshire
. An eleven-year-old girl whom the Opies quoted on the subject identified the song as a parody of John Brown's Body. The Opies did not record whether the Market Rasen song had additional lyrics.
The American indie
band Death Cab for Cutie
have been known to perform "The Burning of the School" at their concert
s.
Tom Glazer
and the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus recorded a version of this song under the title of Battle Hymn of the Children. It was released as the B-side of their 1963 hit, On Top of Spaghetti
.
There are many variations of this song, which nearly always leave the first two lines of the verse and chorus nearly intact and change the third, with some variations to the fourth.
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
"The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is a hymn by American writer Julia Ward Howe using the music from the song "John Brown's Body". Howe's more famous lyrics were written in November 1861 and first published in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1862. It became popular during the American Civil War...
", known and sung by schoolchildren throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in some locations in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Like the Battle Hymn itself, the parody is sung to the tune of John Brown's Body
John Brown's Body
"John Brown's Body" is an American marching song about the abolitionist John Brown. The song was popular in the Union during the American Civil War. The tune arose out of the folk hymn tradition of the American camp meeting movement of the 19th century...
. In versions known to have appeared in print, the opening line always changes the original 'Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord' to 'Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
.' Also, the first line of the refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
, 'Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!', seems always to be followed in the parody by the line 'Teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
hit me with a ruler
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
.' (A few versions have been collected that change 'Hallelujah' to 'What's it to ya?', but most leave the first line intact.)
The rest of the lyrics vary with time and place, but generally involve the children inflicting various types of mayhem on the school and its staff.
In their 1959 book The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, the British folklorists Peter and Iona Opie recorded that 'Glory, glory hallelujah/Teacher hit me with a ruler' was frequently sung by children in Market Rasen
Market Rasen
Market Rasen is a town and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the River Rase northeast of Lincoln, east of Gainsborough and southwest of Grimsby. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 3,200....
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. An eleven-year-old girl whom the Opies quoted on the subject identified the song as a parody of John Brown's Body. The Opies did not record whether the Market Rasen song had additional lyrics.
The American indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
have been known to perform "The Burning of the School" at their concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s.
Tom Glazer
Tom Glazer
Thomas Zachariah "Tom" Glazer was an American folk singer and songwriter known primarily as a composer of ballads, including: "Because All Men Are Brothers", recorded by The Weavers and Peter, Paul and Mary, "Talking Inflation Blues", recorded by Bob Dylan, and "A Dollar Ain't A Dollar Anymore"...
and the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus recorded a version of this song under the title of Battle Hymn of the Children. It was released as the B-side of their 1963 hit, On Top of Spaghetti
On Top of Spaghetti
"On Top of Spaghetti" is a ballad and children's song written and originally performed by folk singer Tom Glazer with the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus in 1963. The song is sung to the tune of "On Top Of Old Smokey". It is essentially the tale of a meatball that was lost when "somebody sneezed"...
.
Sample lyrics
Typical lines are- Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school
- We have tortured all the teachers - we have broken all the rules
- We ramrocked the offices and hung the principal
- March on, third grade, march on!
- Glory, glory, hallelujah
- My teacher hit me with a ruler
- I hid behind her door with a loaded .44
- And the teacher don't teach no more!
There are many variations of this song, which nearly always leave the first two lines of the verse and chorus nearly intact and change the third, with some variations to the fourth.
Anthologies containing versions of the song
- Josepha ShermanJosepha ShermanJosepha Sherman is an American author. In 1990 she won the Compton Crook Award for the novel The Shining Falcon.-Buffyverse:*Visitors *Deep Water ...
and T.K.F. Weisskopf, eds., Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts: The Subversive Folklore of Childhood. August House, Atlanta, 1995. - News from Lake Wobegon by Garrison KeillorGarrison KeillorGary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio personality. He is known as host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor (born August 7, 1942) is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio...
, Highbridge Audio, 1991. ISBN 978-0942110388