#your school

I am forever changed.

Recorded in 1984, never released (except a clip on Oobu Joobu)

We're gonna talk it out someday All that is nearest and dearest I want it, you want it, they want it too And me? I want to love you Come on baby ... what have you've got Tell me that I learned a lot in your school, your school... I never thought [it meant/I'd learn] so much I'm just a poor fool in love, your school... I never felt the gentle touch until ..... I met you Oohhh you better tell me all you know Concerning this situation oohhoohooh I'd like, you'd like it, they always do... Me? I still wanna love you

I can't help but interpret this as Paul desperately wishing for a really deep and public reconciliation with John.

Two lyrics it puts me in mind of:

I never give you my number I only give you my situation And in the middle of investigation I break down

You Never Give Me Your Money

and

You must have learned something in all those years

Omg thank you so much for your question. I actually am going through their solo careers chronologically (and then I got stuck on putting The Beatles in chronological recording order, so I just got to Walls and Bridges. I haven't actually gotten to the era you're talking about.

But I just listened and here are my thoughts:

Okay....

First off, questionable lyrics:

I want it, you want it, they want it too and me? I want to love you

I like,you like it, they always do... me? I still wanna love you

There's no one else it could be about that those lyrics would be about. "they" means fans, and there is no other relationship Paul had that fans give even half a shit about.

A very significant part of me thinks it's just directly about being queer

ohhh you better tell me all you know concerning this situation

Here's an absolutely heartbreaking theory...

He didn't record it till 84 but it was written before John died.

He was just trying to get up the courage to record it, and he never did. Because you taught me everything please teach me how to handle this too is more direct than Paul had ever been before.

So I do wonder if it was written when he was still alive.

— Tout Les Jours (Every Day), by René Magritte (1966).

-

Day after day  Alone on a hill  The man with the foolish grin  Is keeping perfectly still  But nobody wants to know him  They can see that he's just a fool  And he never gives an answer 

But the fool on the hill  Sees the sun going down  And the eyes in his head  See the world spinning round 

Well on the way  Head in a cloud  The man of a thousand voices  Talking perfectly loud 

But nobody ever hears him  Or the sound he appears to make  And he never seems to notice 

But the fool on the hill  Sees the sun going down  And the eyes in his head  See the world spinning round  

And nobody seems to like him  They can tell what he wants to do   And he never shows his feelings 

But the fool on the hill  Sees the sun going down  And the eyes in his head  See the world spinning round, oh oh oh, round round round round 

He never listens to them  He knows that they're the fools  They don't like him 

The fool on the hill  Sees the sun going down  And the eyes in his head  See the world spinning round 

Oh, round round round round, oh 

-

‘I see somebody now!’ [Alice] exclaimed at last. ‘But he’s coming very slowly—and what curious attitudes he goes into!’ (For the messenger kept skipping up and down, and wriggling like an eel, as he came along, with his great hands spread out like fans on each side.) 

‘Not at all,’ said the King. ‘He’s an Anglo-Saxon Messenger—and those are Anglo-Saxon attitudes. He only does them when he’s happy. His name is Haigha.’ (He pronounced it so as to rhyme with ‘mayor.’) 

‘I love my love with an H,’ Alice couldn’t help beginning, ‘because he is Happy. I hate him with an H, because he is Hideous. I fed him with—with—with Ham-sandwiches and Hay. His name is Haigha, and he lives—’ 

‘He lives on the Hill,’ the King remarked simply, without the least idea that he was joining in the game, while Alice was still hesitating for the name of a town beginning with H. ‘The other Messenger’s called Hatta. I must have two, you know—to come and go. One to come, and one to go.’

— in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871).

-

Paul then went back to his guitar and started to sing and play a very slow, beautiful song about a foolish man sitting on the hill. John listened to it quietly, staring blankly out of the window, almost as if he wasn’t listening. Paul sang it many times, la-la-ing words he hadn’t thought of yet. When at last he finished, John said he’d better write the words down or he’d forget them. Paul said it was OK. He wouldn’t forget them. It was the first time Paul had played it for John. There was no discussion.

— in Hunter Davies’ The Beatles: The Authorised Biography (1968).

-

JOHN: Who’s the fool on the hill, Paul?

PAUL: John.

-

Thank You Girl (1963): I know, little girl, only a fool would doubt our love

Another Girl (1965): You're making me say that I've got nobody but you / But as from today, well I've got somebody that's new / I ain't no fool and I don't take what I don't want / For I have got another girl, another girl

Girl (1965): She's the kind of girl who puts you down when friends are there / You feel a fool

The Fool On The Hill (1967): And nobody seems to like him / They can tell what he wants to do / And he never shows his feelings

Sexy Sadie (1968): Sexy Sadie, what have you done? / You made a fool of everyone

Hey Jude (1968): And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain / Don't carry the world upon your shoulders / For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool / By making his world a little colder

Glass Onion (1968): I told you 'bout the fool on the hill / I tell you man he living there still

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (1968): Back in school again Maxwell plays the fool again / Teacher gets annoyed

Come And Get It (1969): If you want it, here it is, come and get it / Make your mind up fast / If you want it, anytime, I can give it / But you better hurry 'cause it may not last | Did I hear you say / That there must be a catch? / Will you walk away / From a fool and his money?

Dear Friend (1970): Dear friend, throw the wine / I'm in love with a friend of mine / Really truly, young and newly wed / Are you a fool, or is it true?

Some People Never Know (1971): No one else will ever see how much faith you have in me / Only fools would disagree that it's so / Some people never know | Like a fool I'm far away / Every night I hope and pray / I'll be coming home to stay and it's so / Some people never know [...] Only love can stand the test / Only you outshine the rest / Only fools take second best, and it's so / Some people never know

Sally G (1974): Somewhere to the south of New York City / Lies the friendly state of Tennessee / Down in Nashville town then I met a pretty / Who made a pretty big fool out of me

Memories (1979): Wondering, wondering / Is that really me / Running ’round in circles like a fool? / Off in such insanity / It’s a wonder how I survived / Ah, angels have been good to me / And I’m glad to be alive

The Other Me (1982): The other me would rather be the glad one / The other me would rather play the fool / I want to be the kind of me / That doesn't let you down as a rule

Your School (1984): Never thought I’d learn so much / Just a poor fool in love / Your school / I never felt the gentle touch until I met you

-

Ooo, that's a good point.

Also Paul speaks like John is alive anyway, especially at that point.

In the Bob Costas interview in 91 Paul says "Nevermind, love" when Bob shows him one of their songs being used in an ad.

The way he copes is basically with John in his head. I'm sure they have all sorts of conversations in his mind.

And nothing would surprise me less than the idea that even in his mind they still can't communicate properly.

Keep in mind I only heard the song once when making that post. With Paul's music I am only at Band on the Run. Which is another album that is almost entirely about John. (Paul has a lot of those,) so I certainly haven't sat with it enough to have a full picture.