well, the readin´ and the writtin´ and arithmatic
never did get through to me

it ain´t because i´m square or thick
´cause i learned my ABC´s
but when i graduated from the grammer school
and i moved one grade above
i began to be a snook at books
but i made straight A´s in love

now the teacher would say
to learn your algebra
but i´d bring home C´s and D´s
how could i make an A
when there´s a swingin´ maid
on the left and on the right
and in the back and the front of me
oh, my grades are low
on my card i know
but they oughta give me one above
if they´d give me a mark

for learnin´ in the dark
i´d have straight A´s in love

now in my senior year
with graduation near
i did my homework everynight
and when my momma said
i oughta go to bed
i turn out all the lights
but my sweetie pie
was waitin´ right outside
she´d be a cooin´ like a dove
though i did my best
i failed semester test
but made straight A´s in love

now the teacher would say
to learn your algebra

but i´d bring home C´s and D´s
how could i make an A
when there´s a swingin´ maid
on the left and on the right
and in the back and the front of me
oh, my grades are low
on my card i know
but they oughta give me one above
if they´d give me a mark
for learnin´ in the dark
i´d have straight A´s in love