SLS – School

Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday is an an educational one. Do you have any idea how many Taylor Swift songs mention “school”? It was hard to pick only one.

My song choice is in honour of our recent move. Taylor Swift’s track “London Boy” mentions going to the pub to watch rugby with “his” school friends…we all assume she means Joe Alwyn. This song had a mixed reaction. To me, it is just sheer fun – the words and the vibe. I mean any song with the line “Darling, I fancy you” is supposed to be light hearted. It is not supposed to be a comprehensive guide to London. I loved that she mentioned Tennessee culture and gave some random experiences of life in London. I know all the places she mentioned and I have shared a similar taste of London. In fact it makes me laugh that TayTay could come to this city and get right down to some pretty regular experiences. Some people like London for exactly that reason – the grit and grime round the corner from the sparkle and shine. It is a city where you can float anonymously (especially if you were a facemask and a hat) and be so “normal”, one of the millions on the move under grey skies.

I loved this song for exactly that reason – it made me imagine Taylor being one of the people we would perhaps be crossing paths with as we traverse these different London boroughs, all pushing each other to get onto the tube, cheering madly when Saracens score a try, queuing outside the Brixton Academy to see some random band (no way would she have to queue, they would let her in the stage entrance surely) and pressing our noses to the windows of chic boutiques wondering if there is any justifiable reason to spend a small fortune on another handbag.

The song was written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. But credits are also due to Cautious Clay and Mark Anthony Spears.

I love my hometown as much as Motown, I love SoCal
And you know I love Springsteen, faded blue jeans, Tennessee whiskey
But something happened, I heard him laughing
I saw the dimples first and then I heard the accent
They say home is where the heart is
But that's not where mine lives

You know I love a London boy
I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon
He likes my American smile, like a child when our eyes meet
Darling, I fancy you
Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates
So I guess all the rumors are true
You know I love a London boy
Boy, I fancy you (Ooh)

And now I love high tea, stories from Uni, and the West End
You can find me in the pub, we are watching rugby with his school friends
Show me a gray sky, a rainy cab ride
Babes, don't threaten me with a good time
They say home is where the heart is
But God, I love the English

You know I love a London boy, I enjoy nights in Brixton
Shoreditch in the afternoon
He likes my American smile, like a child when our eyes meet
Darling, I fancy you
Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates
So I guess all the rumors are true
You know I love a London boy
Boy, I fancy you

So please show me Hackney
Doesn't have to be Louis V up on Bond Street
Just wanna be with you
Wanna be with you
Stick with me, I'm your queen
Like a Tennessee Stella McCartney, on the Heath
Just wanna be with you (Wanna be with you)
Wanna be with you (Oh)

You know I love a London boy, I enjoy walking SoHo
Drinking in the afternoon (Yeah)
He likes my American smile, like a child when our eyes meet
Darling, I fancy you (You)
Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates
So I guess all the rumors are true (Yeah)
You know I love a London boy (Oh)
Boy (Oh), I fancy you (I fancy you, ooh)

So please show me Hackney
Doesn't have to be Louis V up on Bond Street
Just wanna be with you
I, I, I fancy you
Oh whoa, oh, I
Stick with me, I'm your queen
Like a Tennessee Stella McCartney, on the Heath
Just wanna be with you (Ooh)
Wanna be with you
I fancy you (Yeah), I fancy you
Oh whoa, ah