In contrast to the conventional sociological view of the time that saw the education system ‘failing’ working class youth, Willis argued that the lads he observed were deliberately failing themselves in recognition of the inevitable manual working future that awaited them.

i lost the child in me
watched the sun rise and was bored
no longer want to skate
just want to hang around reading
just want to hang around and get fucked up
4 years of college and no degree
my 8 year old self would kick the shit out of me

salt lake city punks move to new york city
get jobs working in diners
wishing they still lived in slc
selling chapbooks for 4 dollars
no one is buying chapbooks anymore
their 16 year old self would kick the shit out of them

scottish writers copying american writers
nothing is original anymore
no one wants to be original anymore
i don't want to be original anymore
i want to kick the shit out of myself.