Buttmunker

What is this song about?

Lyrics:

The silicon chip inside her head
Gets switched to overload
And nobody's gonna go to school today
She's going to make them stay at home
And daddy doesn't understand it
He always said she was as good as gold
And he can see no reason
Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to be shown

Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I want to shoot
The whole day down

The telex machine is kept so clean
As it types to a waiting world
And mother feels so shocked
Father's world is rocked
And their thoughts turn to
Their own little girl
Sweet 16 ain't that peachy keen
No, it ain't so neat to admit defeat
They can see no reasons
Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to be shown

Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I want to shoot
The whole day down

All the playings stopped in the playground now
She wants to play with her toys a while
And school's out early and soon we'll be learning
And the lesson today is how to die
And then the bullhorn crackles
And the captain crackles
With the problems and the how's and why's
And he can see no reasons
Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to die

The silicon chip ...

Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I want to shoot
The whole day down

Sounds like it could be about a kid who shot up the school, but somehow I don't think so... ???

atlantamoi

Yeah, it is about a girl who shot up a playground from her house. I'm sure there is detailed info about it online somewhere. When they asked her why she did it she said "I don't like Mondays".

atlantamoi

On January 16 1979 Brenda Spencer took up a position outside the Cleveland Elementary School and waited for the principal to open the place. Once he did so, and the kiddies started showing up, Brenda let fire. For 20 minutes she had the students, teachers, and even the crossing guard holed up. In that time Brenda managed to kill the Principal and school caretaker, also injuring nine kids, aged between 6 and 12. Once tired of the game, Brenda went home and waited for the police. For two hours Brenda spoke to the press and police negotiators before finally giving herself up, and for her it had all been worth it, for she had, at last, got her 15 minutes.

She was convicted on two counts of murder and is currently serving two 25 to life sentences.

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shad...7/spencer.html

I always remembered this story because I believe Bob was here in Atlanta at Georgia State's radio station when he saw the story on the telex.

devilpants

There's a great song by The Child Molesters called "Brenda Spencer" about the same thing, check it out.

fryinpan1

Bon Jovi covered I Don't Like Mondays live in Wembley 1995.

deadlax

Tori Amos does the best version of this song.

atlantamoi

I haven't heard Tori's version, but I can't believe for one second it's better than the original.

Buttmunker

I haven't heard Tori Amos' version, but damn! I recently heard a kick-ass version (which has now become my absolute favorite version, even better than the original) by the Groovy Ghoulies (yes, that is their name). A punk rock cover, and it is definite ear-candy!

djbrown

Used beautifully in "20 Hours in America, Part 2" during Season 4 of the West Wing.

GuessWho

...as a duet with Bob Geldoff

postpunk

Great versions of "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Rat Trap" by Sir Bob to close the Brit Awards the other night. If you can catch a replay on XM, I'd recommend it.

Pointyskull

One of my fondest concert memories is seeing the Boomtown Rats at a tiny suburban rock club (B'Ginnings) a million years ago, and when Geldof introduced the song he described it as still being a work in progress, something that they were still finalizing the writing on. He gave the background on Brenda Spencer, and then the band launched into the tune.

Wonderful.....

Squirrel God

Tori does some good covers. Check out her mellow cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I was dubious but a friend made me listen and damn, it's pretty good!