Back to School is a 1986 comedy film starring Rodney Dangerfield, Keith Gordon, Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, William Zabka, Ned Beatty, Sam Kinison, and Robert Downey, Jr. It was directed by Alan Metter.
The plot centers on a wealthy but uneducated father (Dangerfield) who goes to college to show solidarity with his discouraged son (Gordon) and learns that he cannot buy an education or happiness.
Author Kurt Vonnegut, has a cameo as himself, as does the band Oingo Boingo, whose frontman Danny Elfman composed the score for the film.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison was used as a backdrop for the movie, although it was called "Grand Lakes University." The diving scenes were filmed at the since-demolished Industry Hills Aquatic Center (see Industry Hills Aquatic Club) in the City of Industry, California.
After the ending scene, before the credits roll, there is a message: "For ESTELLE Thanks For So Much". This is a reference to Estelle Endler, one of the executive producers of the film. She was also Dangerfield's agent and helped him get into films like Caddyshack. She had died during the filming of Back to School, so he dedicated the film to her.
What are we doing flying a car?
We're only twelve years old
I can't believe that we haven't crashed yet
It's only a matter of time
And Ron got a howler
From Mrs. Weasley
The only good thing about living with the Dursleys
Is that they don't care about me
We crashed right into the Whomping Willow
What a way to arrive
I can't believe that we didn't get expelled
It's only a matter of time
And Ron got a howler
From Mrs. Weasley
The only good thing about living with the Dursleys
Is that they don't care about me
Nothing better than a fresh back to school
.. for the crucifix rumor is this NYS
In four months this … don’t pee in the glass BIG
The homie .. free at last they wanna block with the ..
Why have to wait peach no one for .. hope for better days
.. chase the greens but say away from …
Face in the sink colder water in the …difference between workers and
bosses
And a corporate office with my …and over locking like smashing their
heads
Ina flash like the grand master … making transaction
.. shorty still looks good .. what up another year .. seniors you know we
are here
Shorty got a new purse with a .. clutch we lost .. fix them one Mississippi
You didnt listen when you went to school
You dressed like a clown and you behaved like a fool
But now your education is about to begin
The difference between love and the mess that youre in
You figured youre cool Ill bend all the rules
Ill get them going red flags to a bull
Its not like the movies no duel in the sun
You need the answer to get your love done
Now youre going back to school
Now youre going to learn the rules
Now youre going back, youre going back
Youre going back to school
You know the business or so you believe
You set all your sights but you aim to deceive
You think youll hit the target every time that you fire
You think you know the difference between love and desire
But someones waiting to turn you around
Shell shoot you down and put your feet on the ground
Its not like dreamin you can make mistakes
A lesson learned is not so easy to take
Now youre going back to school
Now youre going to learn the rules
Now youre going back, youre going back
Youre going back to school
Now youre going back to school
Now youre going to learn the rules
Now youre going back, youre going back
Youre going back to school
Youre doin numbers but you dont keep the score
Theyre scratchin the surface but they dont
Reach the core
You only bought the ticket cause the price was all in
Youll never reach the heart until you,ve broken the skin
Youre busy running but you never relax
Live now pay later including the tax
But now your education is about to begin
Forget about the stories and the places youve been
Now youre going back to school
Now youre going to learn the rules
Now youre going back, youre going back
Youre going back to school
Man my daddy told me boy when i was your age i had to walk thiteen miles to school. I said ohh is that why you didnt graduate. talkin noise with all of my homeboys, ready to go back to school. with a mouth full of beer and a nose full of weed. momma moma momma go the university of smoking marijuana. all of my friends go to USC. so ima tag along and hit the tumb of weed. walking through the masses looking for my classes. can't concentrate on the teachers surrounded by tities and asses. spend alot of money on some brand new clothes tryin to impress these brand new hoes. laugh everytime i have sex with a chick. baby don't go im the next convict.
Wintertime comes early to the north part of this state
I walk along the river where we used to come and skate
The trees're now all gone and by the river there's a sign
Trespassin' is a twenty dollar fine
Lookin' up the road toward the schoolhouse on the hill
That thing about an empty building causes me to chill
My memory goes back to when the teacher rang the bell
The day she sent you home for saying hell
Walkin' past the building so important in my past
The road is full of ol' discarded bottles and some trash
I step behind the building as I shelter from the cold
I see our names in letters big and bold
My fingers trace the letters of a work of art alone
And I recall the day that you carved it in a stone
Somehow I can see you now with books and coat in hand
You always waved as down the hill you ran
Cokes were just a nickel then and many were the times
The two of us would sip them as if they were village wine
And then on Graduation Day we bought the little ring
And said that carats didn't mean a thing
Now I retrace my footsteps to the cab that waits for me
Looking back to see our names you carved upon a tree
The driver says I look familiar asks me what's my name
Made my escape just a few days ago
I don't wanna tell you how low you can go
Movin' on up get a job quickly
Somthin hit me I don't know wot it was
I wanna go back this (week)
I wanna go back this (week)
I wanna go back this (minute)
They said I was unruly
Better get a job
I really didn't understand the meaning of the word
I tried to get an understanding with the foreman boss
He simply put me down and said I wasn't
(To be trusted)
So I wanna go back
I wanna go back
I wanna go back
I wanna go back to school
I wanna go back to school
You might think I'm a crazy fool
I wanna go back to school
Man its safer in there
The world outside is so uncool
I need the money right now, I need the right job
The guys at work just needle me, they just can't
get enough
I telephoned my friend, he said "same with me"
So wot are we going to do in this unearthly factory
I don't understand, how I was pushed to the brink
I wanna go back
I wanna go back
I wanna go back
I wanna go back to school
I wanna go back to school
I wanna go back to school
Man it's crazy out here in the 'outer' world
I wanna go back to school
So I'm sitting in the dark
In my bed the other night
Thinking about my teacher
Now wasn't she right
They said youd get a shock
Just like coming out of the womb
The world outside's enormous
There's only so much room
People kick and tear your brain
Life outside's insane
I wanna go back "HERE ME NOW"
I really tried to work so hard
They told me scrub the floor
They kicked me like a toy
Nailed me to the door
I wanna go back to school
I wanna hear it, hear it
Hear the golden rule
stay in school they say,
things get harder when you leave the class.
stay in school they say,
things get harder when you be yourself.
and you believe what they tell you,
that shit just stays inside your head.
cross my hands behind my back,
hear what they say,
Hot summer's gone and you're still ready to burn
Back from vacation and you're eager to learn
Anticipation mixed with desire
No one can stop you 'cause you're heart's on fire
Back, back to school
I'll teach you all the things that you never knew
You're going back, back to school
I'll give you everything and you know it's true
'Cause it's back to school for you
Now I'm the teacher but I have no degree
Forget the rest I'll teach you biology
Now just relax and you'll do your best
Concentrate and you'll past the test
Back, back to school
I'll teach you all the things that you never knew
You're going back, back to school
I'll give you everything and you know it's true
'Cause it's back to school for you
I'll be your teacher and you'll be my pet
Put down your notebook 'cause there's no written test
Graduation is what you deserve
You'll have no problem 'cause I grade on a curve
Going back, back to school
You're going back, back to school
You're going back, back to school
You're going back
You're going back, back to school
I'll teach you all the things that you never knew
You're going back, back to school
I'll give you everything and you know it's true
You're going back, back to school
Back, back to school
Back to school, back to school
You're going back to school
Back to school, back to school