I have always liked the sound of this song. I have heard covers of this but none compares because of the rawness of it.
This song charted in 1974 at #3 in the Billboard 100, #3 in Canada, and #27 in the UK. The band did have another top 40 hit with “King Of The Party” that ranked #31 on in the Billboard 100.
Michael “Cub” Koda and Michael Lutz wrote the song and Cub sang it. After Brownsville Station disbanded in 1979 he went on to be a DJ and a writer. He wrote the All Music Guide to the Blues, and Blues for Dummies, and some liner notes for other artists.
The owner of the record company hated the song and refused to release it as a single until so many requests came in from radio stations. He then relented and released it as a single.
How the song was written by Songfacts.
It took Koda just a half hour to write the song and an hour for the band to record it. They didn’t think much of it, but the song became far and away their biggest hit. Brownsville Station – comprised of Koda, bass player Michael Lutz and drummer Henry Weck at the time – had released two album previous to Yeah! and were enjoying regional acclaim around Michigan when “Smokin’ In The Boy’s Room” took them to the national level.
The band was known for their high-energy stage shows, which – along with a daring choice of stagewear – earned them a spot as the opening act for Slade on their 1974 UK tour.
Smokin In The Boy’s Room
Where it just seems like everybody’s gettin’ on your case?
From your teacher all the way down to your best girlfriend?
Well, ya know, I used to have ’em just about all the time
But I found a way to get out of ’em
Let me tell you about it!
Listening to the teacher rap, just ain’t my bag
The noon bells rings, you know that’s my cue
I’m gonna meet the boys on floor number two!
Smokin’ in the boys’ room
Now, teacher, don’t you fill me up with your rules
But everybody knows that smokin’ ain’t allowed in school
Lookin’ in the stalls, “No, there ain’t nobody here!”
Oh, my buddy Fang, and me and Paul
To get caught would surely be the death of us all
Smokin’ in the boys’ room
Now, teacher, don’t you fill me up with your rules
But everybody knows that smokin’ ain’t allowed in school
Oh, put me to work, in the school book store
Check out counter and I got bored
Teacher was lookin’ for me all around
Two hours later, you know where I was found
Smokin’ in the boys’ room
Now, teacher, don’t you fill me up with your rules
But everybody knows that smokin’ ain’t allowed in school
Smokin’ in the boys’ room
Oh, smokin’ in the boys’ room
Smokin’ in the boys’ room
Smokin’ in the boys’ room
Now, teacher, I am fully aware of the rules
And everybody knows that smokin’ ain’t allowed in school!
check out that font on the record sleeve- they don’t make ’em like that anymore!
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I know it caught my eye right off the bat. It was a raw little song.
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I agree, Brownsville Station did it best. It was an instant classic. That’s a great story about what it took to get it released as a single.
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It could have been easily missed…I’m glad radio stations gave it a shot.
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Exactly. I don’t know that it could work out that way today, with such restricted play lists. Who knows what great songs we aren’t hearing.
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You are right. There are really good bands out there…I see them on youtube but not on radio…signed by record companies. Bands are not being pushed.
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Saw R.E.M. cover it to end a concert once- their version was pretty good but nothing tops Brownsville Station.
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I can’t imagine them doing it… that is awesome. I never got to see REM and I regret it.
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This was early on in their career- around 1985- I certainly didn’t expect to hear Smokin’ In The Boysroom from them!
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That is the last thing I would expect from them…but their influences varied…I know they loved bubblegum music.
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