Hall & Oates

Released: February 18, 1984

Songwriter: Sara Allen John Oates Daryl Hall

Producer: John Oates Daryl Hall Bob Clearmountain

[Verse 1: Daryl Hall]
Afternoon in the homeroom
They're about to let you go
And the locker slam on the plan
You had tonight
You've been messin' around with a boyfriend
Maybe better left alone
There's a wise guy that you know could
Put you right
In the lot the boy that's idling by
Doesn't rev your heart
Cause it's only lonely spots
He shares with you
And long halls and the gray walls
Are gonna split apart
Believe it or not
There's life after high school
And that's why

[Chorus: Daryl Hall]
The student body got a bad reputation
(Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
What they need is adult education
Back to school, it's a bad situation
(Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
What you want is an adult education
Oh, yeah

[Verse 2: Daryl Hall]
The teacher don't know about how to deal
With the student body (huh, huh)
And the underclassmen are flashing
Hot and cool (huh, huh)
But your girlfriends care
About watch and wear
And talkin about it (huh, huh)
Believe it or not
There's life after high school (huh, huh)
That's right

[Chorus: Daryl Hall]
The student body got a bad reputation
(Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
What they need is adult education
You go back to school, it's a bad situation
(Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
What you want is an adult education
Oh, yeah

[Bridge: Daryl Hall]
They're calling it preparation (huh, huh)
You're waiting for a separation
You're nothing but another odd number (huh, huh)
Memories that you won't remember
So you got a little education (huh, huh)
And a lot of dedication
But you want a little night school (huh, huh)
Maybe some of it'll rub off on ya
The boys are busy in the mirrors (huh, huh)
Trying to imitate their heroes
You make it with a false surrender (huh, huh)
More memories you won't remember
The senior with the Junior Miss (huh, huh)
I wonder what the junior wishes
That she could graduate to adult (huh, huh)
That she could graduate to adult kisses

[Solo]
Adult education
Adult education
Adult education
It's a bad situation
Adult education

Adult, adult
Adult, adult education
Adult education
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Oh yeah, oh yeah

[Outro]
Adult, adult
Adult, adult
Adult, adult
Adult, adult
Adult, adult, adult
Adult, adult, adult
Adult, adult, adult
Adult, adult, adult

Hall & Oates released the first of their 18 albums in 1972 on Atlantic Records. They would go on to sell 13 million albums and 6 million singles primarily during the 70’s and 80’s when they recorded their most prolific and profound music. They blended rock, jazz, soul, and pop create a genre they titled rock and soul.

While their technical musicianship, innovative songwriting styles, and popular live performances were praised, they also had a fruitful partnership with their manager Tommy Mottola, who was helped Hall & Oates break into music videos before they were popular and made profitable financial deals by helping them get on the ground level of and corporate sponsorship of tours. Hall & Oates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

more tracks from the album

The Essential Daryl Hall & John Oates

From the albums

Rock n’ Soul Part 1 (1983)
The Very Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates (2001)
Ultimate Daryl Hall + John Oates (2004)
The Essential Daryl Hall & John Oates (2005)
The Singles (2008)
Non-Stop Pop [GTA V] (2013)
The Music of Grand Theft Auto V, Volume 1: Original Music (2013)

Hall & Oates popular songs

Adult EducationHall & Oates

Hall & Oates

The Essential Daryl Hall & John Oates