What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

                                What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

                                I learned that Washington never told a lie;

                                I learned that soldiers seldom die;

                                I learned that everybody's free,

                                And that's what the teacher said to me,

                                And that's what I learned in school today,

                                That's what I learned in school.

 

                                What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

                                What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

                                I learned that policemen are my friends,

                                I learned that justice never ends,

                                I learnt that mudderers die for their crimes

                                Even if we make mistakes some times,

                                And that's what I learned in school today

                                That's what I learned in school.

 

                                What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

                                What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

                                I learned that war is not so bad,

                                I learned about the great ones we have had,

                                We fought in Germany and in France,

                                And some day I might get my chance,

                                And that's what I learned in school today

                                That's what I learned in school.

 

                                What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

                                What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

                                I learned our government must be strong,

                                It's always right and never wrong,

                                Our leaders are the finest men

                                And we elect 'em again and again,

                                And that's what I learned in school today

                                That's what I learned in school.

 

Footnote : Contemporary song marched hand and hand with traditional song during the Scottish Folk Revival and the songs of American folksinger and songwriter featured regularly. This song appeared on his LP 'Ramblin Boy' in the mid 60's. Tom Paxton is still to the fore and regularly visits Scotland - he plays a concert in the Strathclyde Suite at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall ( Box Office 0141 353 8000 - tickets £12.50 ) on Wednesday 29 May 2002. He will be joined by Anne Hills to perform tracks from their new duet album 'Under American Skies'.