Many people believe that this song was written for school children to be sung at the start of the school year. The truth is that the words were written by Will D. Cobb, a prolific songwriter, for the musical play Sunbonnet Sue. The music was composed by Gus Edwards. The play was produced by Mr. Edwards and ran for 32 shows at the Circle Theater, opening on September 14, 1908 and closing October 10, 1908, more than 100 years ago! Nevertheless, the song has survived well beyond the musical to become a school children anthem.

What is interesting are the lyric's "Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick." is so passe in today's society. However, in the days in which the song was written, corporal punishment was not only condoned but teachers often meted out punishment for the smallest infractions. In those days, classrooms were far more disciplined. Today, teacher's are prohibited from using physical contact as a disciplinary measure. Despite the taboo of a hickory stick in modern classrooms, it is catchy first 4 lines of the chorus that is most widely known and sung by school children.


Chorus
School Days, School Days,
dear old golden rule days,
Readin' and 'ritin', and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick.
You were my queen in calico.
I was your bashful barefoot beau.
And you wrote on my slate, "I love you, Joe,"
When we were a couple of kids.


Nothing to do, Nellie Darling
Nothing to do you say
Let's take a trip on memory's ship
Back to the bygone days
Sail to the old village school house
Anchor outside the school door
Look in and see
There's you and there's me
A couple of kids once more

School Days, School Days,
dear old golden rule days,
Readin' and 'ritin', and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick.
You were my queen in calico.
I was your bashful barefoot beau.
And you wrote on my slate, "I love you, Joe,"
When we were a couple of kids.

'Member the hill
Nellie Darling
And the oak tree
That grew on its brow
They've built forty storeys
Upon that old hill
And the oak's an old chestnut now
'Member the meadows
So green, dear
So fragrant with clover and maize
Into new city lots
And preferred business plots
They've cut them up
Since those days

School Days, School Days,
dear old golden rule days,
Readin' and 'ritin', and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick.
You were my queen in calico.
I was your bashful barefoot beau.
And you wrote on my slate, "I love you, Joe,"
When we were a couple of kids.