Schoolin’ Life by Beyoncé – Lyrics Meaning as an Anthem for Every Generation
Lyrics
Time really moves fast, you were just sixteen
This is for them thirty somethings
That didn’t turn out exactly how your mom and dad wanted you to be
This is for them forty somethings
Well raise up your glass and laugh like a motherfucker
This is for them fifty somethings
Hell, you’re halfway there, baby take it to the head
Mom and dad tried to hide the world
Said, the world is just too big for a little girl
Eyes wide open, can’t you see
I had my first heels by the age of thirteen
Mom and dad tried to hide the boys
I swear that just made them want me more
At fourteen they asked me what I wanna be
I said “Baby twenty one, so I get me a drink”
I’m not a teacher, babe, but
I can teach you something
Not a preacher, but
We can pray if you wanna
Ain’t a doctor, but
I can make you feel better
But I’m great at writing physical love letters
I’m a freak, all day, all night ooh
Hot, top, flight, boy out of sight
And I’m crazy, all day, all night
Who needs a degree when you’re schoolin’ life?
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh
Ooh whoah oh oh oh
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh
Ooh whoah oh oh oh (schoolin’ life)
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh
Ooh whoah oh oh oh
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh
Ooh whoah oh oh oh (schoolin’ life)
This is for them pretty somethings
Living in a fast lane, see you when you crash babe
This is for them sexy somethings
That body ain’t gon’ always get ya out of everything
This is for them bitter somethings
Stop living in regret, baby, it’s not over yet
And this is for them trippin’ somethings
That’s high on life, baby, put me on your flight
I’m not a teacher, babe, but
I can teach you something
Not a preacher, but
We can pray if you wanna
Ain’t a doctor, but
I can make you feel better
But I’m great at writing physical love letters
I’m a freak, all day, all night ooh
Hot, top, flight, boy out of sight
And I’m crazy, all day, all night
Who needs a degree when you’re schoolin’ life? (Woah)
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh (woah)
Ooh whoah oh oh oh (woah) (schoolin’ life)
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh (woah)
Ooh whoah oh oh oh
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh (woah)
Ooh whoah oh oh oh (schoolin’ life)
You know it costs to be the boss
One day you’ll run the town
For now make your life what you decide
Baby, party ’til the fire marshals shut this sucker down
I’m not a teacher, babe, but
I can teach you something
Not a preacher, but
We can pray if you wanna
Ain’t a doctor, but
I can make you feel better
But I’m great at writing physical love letters
I’m a freak, all day, all night ooh
Hot, top, flight, boy out of sight
And I’m crazy, all day, all night
Who needs a degree when you’re schoolin’ life? (Woah)
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh (woah)
Ooh whoah oh oh oh
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh (who needs a degree when you’re schoolin’ life?)
Ooh whoah oh oh oh (woah)
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh
Ooh whoah oh oh oh (woah)
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh (who needs a degree)
Ooh whoah oh oh oh (when you’re schoolin’ life?)
There’s not a real way to live this
For real
Just remember stay relentless
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Don’t stop running until it’s finished
Yeah, yeah, yeah
It’s up to you, the rest is unwritten
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Beyoncé’s often overlooked track ‘Schoolin’ Life’ isn’t just a hidden gem in her discography, it is a profound narrative that resonates with listeners from various walks of life. Throughout the song, Queen Bey doesn’t just churn out catchy hooks – she delves deep into the essence of growing up, the pressures of societal expectations, and the unapologetic celebration of self-discovery against the backdrop of time.
Beyond the pulsating rhythm and the vibrant ’80s-infused soundscape, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the diverse experiences tied to various life stages, delivering a message that transcends age, race, or gender. ‘Schoolin’ Life’ is more than music; it’s a guide and a companion through the myriad classrooms of existence.
A Vivid Rollercoaster of Ages: Deciphering the Decades
‘Schoolin’ Life’ initiates an intergenerational conversation, where each verse is a toast to a different decade of life. The twenties are about the swift passage of time, the thirties reflect on unmet expectations, the forties are a call to embrace the absurdity of life, and the fifties are about acceptance and taking control. Beyoncé captures the essence of these eras with a striking honesty that speaks to the core of one’s journey through the years.
She doesn’t sugarcoat the experiences, nor does she romanticize the growing pains. Instead, Beyoncé uses her music to articulate a universal truth – that every decade has its trials and victories, and that life is an ever-evolving lesson outside the constraints of a traditional classroom.
The Hidden Curriculum: Beyoncé’s Masterclass in Real Life
Within the velvety folds of ‘Schoolin’ Life,’ lies a blueprint for living authentically. Beyoncé doesn’t position herself as a traditional figure of authority – not as a teacher, preacher or doctor – but rather, she embodies the role of a guide who’s emerged wiser from life’s real lessons. She offers guidance not from a textbook, but from the lived experience of embracing one’s truth.
Her refrains of ‘not a teacher, babe, but I can teach you something’ provide an empowering reminder that conventional education isn’t the only path to wisdom. Sometimes, the school of life imparts lessons that far exceed the value of what one might learn within the four walls of an institution.
When the Beat Drops: The Irrepressible Celebration of the Self
The song isn’t just a series of reflective musings; it’s an all-out celebration. The chorus, with its electric vibes and powerhouse vocals, turns ‘Schoolin’ Life’ into an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt the need to break free and dance through the chaos of existence. Beyoncé invites listeners to celebrate their triumphs, their flaws, and their peculiarities without reservation.
‘Hot, top, flight, boy out of sight / And I’m crazy, all day, all night’ – these lines aren’t just earworms; they’re declarations of self-love and the courage to own every part of one’s journey with head held high. Beyoncé doesn’t just want her listeners to accept themselves; she wants them to revel in the uniqueness of their personhood.
Ferocious Wisdom: Quotable Lines That Stick
‘Who needs a degree when you’re schoolin’ life?’ This rhetorical question is not a denouncement of formal education, but a provocative suggestion to embrace all forms of learning. Beyoncé turns the concept of education on its head, proposing that the challenges, heartaches, and joys we face are just as instructive, if not more so, than traditional academic achievement.
Each line of ‘Schoolin’ Life’ serves a dual purpose – to entertain and to enlighten. It’s filled with memorable one-liners that resonate well beyond the song’s runtime. The lyrics are designed to linger in the mind and challenge the listener to ponder the breadth and depth of their own life’s syllabus.
The Unwritten Chapter: A Future Defined by You
Beyoncé saves perhaps the most powerful message for the bridge, offering a mantra of resilience and autonomy. ‘Don’t stop running until it’s finished / It’s up to you, the rest is unwritten’ is a beckoning towards personal agency and the potential to craft one’s destiny. It’s a call to action – to run the race of life at one’s own pace and to author the yet-to-be-seen.
In ‘Schoolin’ Life,’ Beyoncé doesn’t just gift listeners with an infectious beat; she bestows upon them permission to continue forging their path, penning their narrative, and learning from the vast curriculum life offers. The song is a musical embodiment of the sentiment that life, with all its complexities, is ultimately a beautiful work in progress – a book in which we are both students and scribes.
