High School U.S.A.

Album: High School U.S.A. (1959)
Charted: 28
Play Video
  • Come friday noon about half past three

    High Sschool USA

    I dropped my books and my misery
    I shagged on down to the soda shop
    I dropped a nickel in the old juke box
    Looked around me what did I see
    A gang of school kids that could never be

    They came from Maury, Granby, Va Beach. St Paul, Craddock, Deep Creek... etc. That's the way I wrote it. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 12, 1959, Tommy Facenda performed "High School U.S.A."* on the ABC-TV musical variety program, the 'Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show'...
    At the time the song was at #54 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, three weeks earlier it had peaked at #28 {for 1 week} and it spent thirteen weeks on the Top 100...
    It was Tommy Facenda's only Top 100 record...
    Tommy Facenda celebrated his 78th birthday last month on November 10th {2017}...
    * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, in 1959 there were two other Top 100 records with 'U.S.A.' in their titles, "Philadelphia, U.S.A." by the Nu-Tornadoes {#28 on January 5th} and "Back In The U.S.A." by Chuck Berry {peaked at #37 on July 7th}.
  • Susan from Portsmouth, VaHow can we hear the version he wrote for the Hampton Roads area Schools....Maury, Granby Newports News, Oscar Smith etc. my Mom had this but I can't find this version anywhere...would love to post it on an alumni page of a local high school. Thanks
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.