Rock 'n' Roll High School - The Ramones

Knock out

I wanted to choose something from a Johnny Ramone composition to mark the 10th anniversary of his death yesterday. Unfortunately with one thing and another I didn't get round to it, so this is a little late. I also had some problems finding songs which Johnny at least partly composed which had at least one phrasal verb worth making an example of. In the end, I picked Rock 'n' roll high school, which credits Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee as authors.

The song was first recorded by the band in 1979 by Ed Stasium for the film of the same name, though another version, recorded by Phil Spector, is the one which appears on the Rock 'n' Roll High School soundtrack album and also on the album End of the Century.

Well the girls out there knock me out, you know
Rock, rock, rock'n'roll high school
Cruisin' around in my GTO
Rock, rock, rock'n'roll high school
I hate the teachers and the principal
Don't wanna be taught to be no fool
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock'n'roll high school
(Rock n roll high school, The Ramones)


Knock out: impress, surprise, cause admiration Dictionary definition of knock out

The basic meaning of knock out is to hit someone so they become unconscious. Here however the figurative meaning is used.

Rock and Roll High School lyrics

Listen to Rock and Roll High School